MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

OAS calls for a political solution to Colombian internal conflict

Organization of American States Secretary General Jose Insulza

The Organization of American States Secretary General said the Colombian internal conflict should move towards a negotiated political solution, and offered to contribute to the peace efforts.

“As has happened with all armed conflicts in Latinamerica, there should also be a political, negotiated understanding in Colombia”, said Jose Miguel Insulza during a meeting in Honduras on the eve of the OAS Foreign Affairs ministers summit which officially begins Tuesday.

Every three months Insulza must present the OAS Permanent Council a report on the advances of the Mission in Support of the Peace Process in Colombia, MAPPOEA, which was first established in 2004.

Support consists in contributing to the verification of cease fires, end of hostilities, disarmament, de-mobilization and reinsertion of the armed groups back to civilian life.

“But what does not involve us is to say when such a negotiation will be reached and begin”, said Insulza, that is exclusive of Colombia.

He said that OAS currently was involved in monitoring the disarmament process of Colombian para-military group, but admitted the situation had reached a strange point, “it’s something complicated since nobody calls themselves para-military or United Self Defence of Colombia”, which is the leading group.

“What remains are small armed groups which roam the area, in lesser numbers, but they are there and are clearly linked or identified with organized crime”, said Insulza.

The para-military as a “political group” have ceased to exist, but OAS still has to address issues of peace, justice, reincorporation or re-insertion of former combatants plus giving them protection, as well as to witnesses, and compensations to victims, according to the OAS Secretary General.

Regarding the other side of the war, which subsists, “we have always been available to participate in any negotiation or negotiation effort which the Colombian government might wish to address”.

“We’ve done what we’ve been asked to do, but we are not involved in the decision process”, he underlined.

On Tuesday Insulza will be opening the OAS XXXIX general assembly in the Honduras city of San Pedro Sula. The 34 ministers of the OAS country members will be participating including the presidents from Honduras, Nicaragua and Paraguay.

Although there’s an official agenda, the Cuban issue and the possible return of the Caribbean island to OAS, is expected to be the most controversial and disputed point.