Bogota, October 15 (RHC)-- The National Liberation Army of Colombia (ELN) after re-asserting its disposition and will for peace, announced Monday that it has assembled a team of negotiators for talks with the Colombian government.

"Exploratory conversations, are a stopping element for the process to be a reality," the ELN said.

On Aug 28, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos assured he was prepared to start talking with the ELN, after the rebel group released Canadian Jernoc Wobert, the vice-president of the Braewal Mining Corporation. Wobert had been taken hostage on Jan 18.

Peace talks between the government of Juan Manuel Santos and the ELN, headed by Nicolas Rodriguez, and Colombia's second biggest militia, have been encouraged by social, political and religious organizations, since negotiations started in Havana, Cuba, in November 2012.