COLOMBIA: Government And ELN Seek Ceasefire Before Pope's Visit

(RTTNews) - The head of the Colombian government delegation, Juan Camilo Restrepo, said that the country is making every effort aimed at achieving peace with the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group.

The government and the guerrilla negotiating teams hope to achieve a ceasefire before Pope Francis' visit to Colombia, scheduled for the next week.

Following a meeting held in Quito, hosted by the President Lenin Moreno, Restrepo thanked Ecuador and said that every effort is being made to announce a bilateral and temporary ceasefire.

"We are determined to live up to that visit and also to take the first step towards peace by agreeing to a bilateral ceasefire and a temporary halt in hostilities that will benefit the civilian population," said the head of the Colombian government delegation.