[NYTr] FARC Confirms: No Hostages to Uribe as Chavez Recalls Ambassador
 
Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2007 08:23:01 -0600 (CST)

Via NY Transfer News Collective  *  All the News that Doesn't Fit
 
Vheadline - Nov 29, 2007
http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=77129

FARC confirms: no hostages to Uribe as Chavez recalls ambassador for
review

nu Patrick J. O'Donoghue

President Chavez has recalled is ambassador to Colombia, Pavel Rondon
to Caracas for consultations. 

The measure adopted is allegedly to review bilateral relations between
the two countries after the deadly rupture between Chavez and Colombian
President Alvaro Uribe over the breakdown of the humanitarian agreement
that President Chavez was brokering.

Colombian Foreign Minister, Fernando Araujo has made it clear that his
government will NOT recall its ambassador but will monitor the
situation, accusing the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)
of seeking to use the space "generously" given it by the Venezuelan
government with the authorization of President Uribe." 

The FARC, Araujo contends, is attempting to present itself before
international public opinion as champions of democracy, while in
Colombia it continues to launch terrorist attacks. 

Meanwhile, the former Colombian emissary promoting the agreement,
Piedad Cordoba has stated that the FARC could release some hostages
before Christmas. 

The Colombian Foreign Minister says he is not certain whether such
claims are true. 

The FARC has ruled out any handover of hostages to the Uribe
administration and continues to demand the demilitarization of 800
square kilometers to define the terms of any exchange.

What has been notable is the silence of the European Union (EU)
regarding the rupture of the humanitarian agreement and the lack of any
diplomatic call on the Colombian government to review its decision. The
EU, it would appear, has succumbed to the USA's Plan Colombia branding
the rebels as terrorists.

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