EFE
May 14, 2001

Mexico City, May 14, 2001 (EFE) -- Mexican government peace mediator Luis Hector Alvarez said Monday that the government will announce a new strategy to help meet the demands of indigenous people and Zapatista guerrillas in southern Mexico.

In a press conference held after his meeting with President Vicente Fox, Alvarez did not unveil the details of the new approach but said he planned to go to Chiapas later this week, after the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) broke off talks with the government on April 30.

The EZLN severed ties with the government after Congress passed an Indian rights bill that was harshly criticized by Mexico's Indian community.

According to Alvarez, the government representative on the peace commission -- known as Cocopa -- formed to resolve the conflict in Chiapas, the government wants to resume negotiations with the EZLN, which first took up arms Jan. 1, 1994.

Cocopa, the Spanish acronym for the peace commission, plans to contact the rebel group in the next few days.

Cocopa Chairman Armando Mendez said Monday that legislators will meet later this week with Fox, Interior Secretary Santiago Creel and Alvarez to discuss the situation in Chiapas.