(VOVworld) – The Colombian government opened peace talks Tuesday with the National Liberation Army (ELN) Group in Quito, Ecuador. The talks, which hope to end a 53-year conflict in Colombia, included Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Guillaume Long, Colombian government representative Juan Camilo Restrepo, ELN member Pablo Beltran, and representatives from Cuba, Norway, Chile and Brazil. 

Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos (Source: VNA)

Addressing the event, ELN representative Pablo Beltran stressed the importance of establishing a bilateral cease-fire before conducting peace talks. Colombian government chief negotiator Juan Camilo Restrepo thanked Ecuador's President Rafael Correa for supporting the peace process in Colombia.