The European Union welcomes the release of the 70 soldiers and marines in Cartagena de Chaira on 15 June 1997.

The European Union hopes that this encouraging event will be an incentive to all parties to seek the path of dialogue and reconciliation to end the internal conflict in Colombia and its frequent and tragic manifestations of violence.

The EFTA countries Norway and Iceland, members of the European Economic Area, the Central and Eastern European countries associated with the European Union and the associated country Cyprus align themselves with this declaration.