Havana ? Exploratory peace talks between Colombia and its second-largest rebel group began Friday in Cuba with help from the Nobel Prize-winning author Gabriel Garcia Marquez and facilitators from Spain, Norway and Switzerland.

Given the history of failed attempts at peace in Colombia, the nation’s peace commissioner urged all parties involved in the talks to work to regain the confidence of Colombia’s people.

“Our main concern at this time is to gain trust,” said Luis Carlos Restrepo, speaking at the official opening of negotiations. “Colombia can’t take any more setbacks.”

Rather than making specific demands, the two sides were meeting to agree on parameters for future talks. Restrepo, who was representing the Colombian government, promised to be realistic and responsible in talks with the rebels.

For his part, the representative of the National Liberation Army, or ELN, promised to listen to the Colombian government’s position, but said the rebels would not accept any superficial solution and called for large-scale changes in the social, economic and political structure of the country.