UN chief urges Colombian gov't, guerrilla group to seize opportunity for ending deadly conflict

United Nation, October 5: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday urged the government of Colombia and the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla to seize opportunity for ending deadly conflict.
Through a statement issued by his spokesman Stephane Dujarric, the top UN official "strongly commends the decision announced today by the government of Colombia and the National Liberation Army to resume peace dialogues."
Guterres urged both parties "to fully seize this opportunity to bring an end to a deadly conflict that has lasted for decades, and whose resolution is critical for expanding the scope of peace in the country."
The secretary-general "is hopeful that Colombians can demonstrate once again that even the most entrenched conflicts can be resolved through dialogue," said the statement.
Peace talks between the Colombian government and the ELN began in 2017, but were suspended in January 2019 after the guerrilla group carried out a car bomb attack that killed over 20 people.
Source: Yonhap