Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Wednesday reiterated his thanks to his Ecuadorian counterpart and host, Rafael Correa, for the latter’s support of Bogota’s peace process with the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas.

On February 7, two months after signing a peace agreement with the FARC guerrillas, the Colombian government begins formal negotiations with the country’s second-largest guerrilla group, the National Liberation Army, or ELN.

El gobierno de Colombia arrancó el diálogo con el otro brazo guerrillero del país.

Members of Colombia's ELN left-wing rebel group and government negotiators have begun talks seeking to end more than five decades of conflict.

Colombia said Wednesday it hopes the country's last active rebel group will release a key hostage this weekend to clear the way for formal peace talks.