Colombia: Annan welcomes request for UN assistance with peace talks

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has welcomed a request from the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP) for assistance in the current peace talks, a UN spokesman said today.

In response to questions from the press, spokesman Fred Eckhard said that the Secretary-General hoped that the parties' decision to ask for the Secretary-General's good offices - in addition to their request for help from the Catholic Church and the "Group of Ten" Facilitating Countries - would serve to place the peace talks on a firmer footing.

The Group of Ten is composed of Canada, Cuba, France, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Venezuela.