.- Archbishop Luis Augusto Castro, vice president of the Bishops Conference of Colombia, expressed his confidence this week that the United Nations would name a new delegate to replace James Lemoyne in the peace negotiations with Marxist rebels in Colombia. Archbishop Castro lamented the withdrawal of what the UN called the "good offices mission" for Colombia, headed up by Lemoyne, but he said he was hopeful that the decision would not be definitive.
He added that the country needs international support and that he was confident that the UN and the government would reach an agreement so that mediation efforts by the UN could continue.
Archbishop Castro acknowledged that while Lemoyne did everything possible to reach a humanitarian agreement that would secure the release of hostages being held by Marxist rebels, peace negotiations have advanced little.
The archbishop also said that many saw the decision to suspend mediation coming, and he thanked Lemoyne for his six years of working for peace in Colombia.
