Spain offers to host Colombian peace talks

Bogota, Aug 24 (EFE).- Spain has offered to host talks aimed at securing lasting peace in Colombia under the country’s new president Gustavo Petro.

Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez made the offer during an interview with W Radio in Colombia during his visit to the country.

He said Spain had supported Colombian peace efforts at every moment, describing the historic 2016 deal between the government and the FARC guerrilla group as a milestone in international politics.

Petro’s government hopes to revive negotiations with the ELN guerilla group, which stalled under his predecessor Iván Duque, as well as renegade remnants of the FARC and the Gulf Clan paramilitary group.

The Spanish PM is due to reiterate his offer to Petro, Colombia’s first leftist president, when the pair meet this evening at the Colombian leader’s official residence.

“We offer ourselves to the Colombian government to help in everything that I think is common sense to achieve peace, and therefore, if these peace talks can be hosted in Spain, Spain would be willing and offers to host them,” Sánchez told the local radio station. EFE

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