(13 Mar 1997) Spanish/Eng/Nat
Talks aimed at ending the hostage crisis in the Peruvian capital Lima resumed Wednesday, after both the rebels and the government refused to attend two earlier sessions.
But the tenth round of talks between the government and the leftist Tupac Amaru rebels brought no sign of agreement.
The pro-Marxist Tupac Amaru rebels are holding 72 hostages at the Japanese Ambassador's residence since 17th December, when they stormed the building during a gala cocktail party.
The troubled negotiation process aimed at ending the 85-day hostage crisis peacefully restarted in Lima on Wednesday.
Rebel leader Nestor Cerpa and his second-in-command, Rolly Rojas, were driven in a Red Cross car across the street from the Japanese Embassy compound to a safe house where previous negotiations have been held.
As the car left the compound, the remaining 20-odd rebels inside the residence sang their rebel hymn in honour of comrades killed by the Peruvian security forces.
The fact that the two parties managed to meet was a sign of progress in the long-drawn and often volatile negotiations.
The Tupac Amaru rebels cancelled a meeting last Friday after accusing the government of trying to tunnel under the embassy building.
On Monday, the government negotiator failed to show up at a planned session, accusing the rebels of trying to backtrack on progress already made.
A three-member committee overseeing the talks confirmed they had been held with "the same cordiality" as previous ones.
Archbishop Cipriani, the Vatican's representative on the committee, announced the outcome of the meeting.
SOUNDBITE:(Spanish)
"As there was no agreement reached on certain issues, a period of reflection is necessary, during which the guarantors and the observers will seek to facilitate, through separate meetings with each side, alternative approaches that can produce a solution."
SUPER CAPTION: Archbishop Juan Luis Cipriani, mediator in hostage crisis.
Canadian Ambassador Anthony Vincent, also a committee member, confirmed the message in English:
SOUNDBITE:(English)
"As there was no agreement reached on certain issues, a period of reflection is necessary, during which the guarantors and the observers will seek to facilitate, through separate meetings with each side, alternative approaches that can produce a solution."
SUPER CAPTION: Anthony Vincent, Canadian Ambassador to Peru and mediator in hostage crisis.
A stumbling block remains the rebels' demand that hundreds of their jailed comrades be freed before the hostages are released.
President Alberto Fujimori has rejected that condition.
According to a poll released Tuesday, 60 percent of Lima's residents disapprove of the way Fujimori is handling the crisis.
A similar poll conducted by the same company in January gave Fujimori the approval of 66 percent of those questioned.
More than three-quarters now say they'd prefer to see a solution through negotiations. Only around a fifth would opt for a raid on the residence.
A date for the 11th round of talks is expected to be announced soon.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
