Brussels, 10/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, the General Affairs Council adopted without discussion its conclusions in which it reaffirmed European Union support for the Colombian peace process. With an eye on the conference of the Colombian process support group to be held on April 30 in Brussels, the Council confirmed that it backs negotiations underway and supports the member states (Spain, France, Italy and Sweden) that have chosen to further the peace process in Colombia (see EUROPE of March 12 & 13, p. 5) The Council nevertheless underscored that the fight against the paramilitaries should continue and noted that respect for human rights and humanitarian rights is a prerequisite for the success of the process and for European support.
In its conclusions, the EU "noted that negotiations with the FARC (the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) and the ELN (National Liberation Army) have made progress and support the efforts made to turn the peace process into a national process. The EU also noted the efforts by the Colombian government to thwart paramilitary activities and urged it to pursue them. The European Union welcomed the decision by the negotiating parties to involve the international community in order to facilitate and observe the peace process. The EU backs the decisions taken by the individual member states to be more directly involved in the peace process at the invitation of the parties. The EU invited the Commission and the member states to use their development co-operation to promote the peace process, including the negotiations and their progress. Respect for human rights and international humanitarian law are a prerequisite for advances in the peace progress and the basis of EU support. The EU reiterated its call to all the armed groups to release immediately all detained hostages".
The Council, in its conclusions of October 9, 2000, and in a declaration of October 24, defined its policy regarding the Colombian peace process: support for the social aspects of the process but greater detachment from the military aspects. The European Parliament urged the Council to stick to that policy and stressed the social origin of the conflict and the need to support peace efforts via agrarian reform.