The Church’s mediation commission that is working to free 7 tourists who were kidnapped September 12 in the northern mountains of Columbia hopes to establish contact again with representatives of the leftist National Liberation Army (ELN) to restart negotiations that will bring the crisis to an end.

Radio Caracol informed that the commission will also contact the spokesman of the rebel group, Francisco Galan, who is being held in Columbian prison, in order to help bring about an agreement between the parties involved.

Officials from several other countries have offered to help in the negotiations to bring about peace in the country, including the Norwegian ambassador, as well as officials from the embassies of Spain, France, Switzerland, Sweden and Cuba.