[NYTr] In Abrupt About-Face, Uribe Ends Venezuelan Colombia Mediation
 
Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2007 15:28:15 -0600 (CST)

Via NY Transfer News Collective  *  All the News that Doesn't Fit
 
[Anyone wonder whose orders Uribe's is following here?  He's been
on-again, off-again for a couple of weeks about Chavez's mediation
efforts, at one point threatening the life of a FARC leader if he 
should emerge from hiding. Now, Uribe's issued a statement that says
"Let's call the whole thing off" on the flimiest of pretexts.  Even 
the right-wing US ally Sarkozy is most unhappy with this turn of events
(one of the FARC's hostages is a French citizen). Uribe seems not only
to be following the White House half-wit's orders, he has also
apparently been infected with Bush's stupidity. -NY Transfer]

Prensa Latina, Havana
http://www.plenglish.com

Colombia Bars Chavez Mediation

Bogota, Nov 22 (Prensa Latina) Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has
decided to unilaterally and surprisingly discontinue Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez' mediating efforts for an exchange of prisoners
between the guerrilla and government.

The decision, contained in a release read last night by Press Secretary
Cesar Mauricio Velasquez, also extended to Senator Piedad Cordoba, who
was also serving as mediator.

The three-point text justifies the pronouncement by sustaining that
Cordoba phoned Army Commander General Mario Montoya, asked him to meet,
and gave the telephone to Hugo Chavez.

According to the note, Chavez questioned Montoya about the people
detained by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which
the Colombian president opposed.

Colombian Presidential Advisor Jose Obdulio Gaviria recognized today
the Chavez-Montoya conversation was very brief, but noted the call
itself was "very serious" and justified the Colombian Executive's
drastic decision.

Senator Piedad Cordoba admitted she phoned Montoya and other Colombian
authorities to ask for meetings and to keep bringing negotiating
efforts forward, and affirmed the Chavez-Montoya conversation was less
than one minute.

ef dig rc mf PL-11

                                 ***

France Frowns at ColombiaB4s Cutoff

by Fausto Triana

Paris, Nov 22 (Prensa Latina) The abrupt, surprising end by Bogota of
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's goodwill offer to negotiate an
exchange of prisoners in Colombia was labeled in France as absurd,
dramatic, and hopeless.

The ex-husband of former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, a
French-Colombian citizen detained by the Colombian guerrilla since
2002, and the committees supporting her release have expressed
consternation over President UribeB4s decision.

After having praised Chavez's efforts and commitment to try to achieve a
humanitarian exchange of prisoners between the rebel Revolutionary
Armed Forces of Colombia and the executive, President Alvaro Uribe has
changed his mind.

Betancourt's ex-husband Fabrice Delloye told the local radio that far
beyond causing unhappiness, the news becomes a drama, "President Uribe
is a complex man and able to change his mind all of a sudden."
Similarly, the International Federation of Committees supporting
Betancourt said in a declaration they are "very concerned over Uribe"s
decision. The group reiterated its confidence in Chavez's efforts, and
affirmed "we have nothing now, and ask that the decision be
reconsidered." Today, France urged Colombia President Alvaro Uribe to
keep the dialogue alive, allowing for the exchange of prisoners.

French authorities stressed Paris supports Chavez's efforts, and
indicated President Nicolas Sarkozy will address a related letter to
Uribe.

"We think Chavez's endeavour is the best choice for the release of the
hostages," Sarkozy"s spokesman David Martinon pointed out.

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                                ***

Venezuela Leader Rues Uribe's About-Face

Caracas, Nov 22 (Prensa Latina) The governor of Anzoategui, Venezuela,
Tarek William, said Colombia was wrong to take President Hugo Chavez
out of the humanitarian negotiations.

William told En Confianza program of Venezolana de Television that such
statements by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe could signal hostility,
like setting December 31 as deadline to the negotiation.

The official reminds that patience and flexibility are the topmost
conditions to negotiate and make progress in such a complex matter.

In his view, Colombia was "looking for any excuse to end Chavez's
negotiation," since his popularity would grow in the neighboring
country.

It is hard to understand such an attitude against an arrangement in
favor of peace, human rights and to end such strong hostility as
Colombia's, said the governor.

With Uribe's consent, Chavez mediated a recent talk in Caracas with the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National
Liberation Army (ELN) to arrange a humanitarian accord.

This accord is aimed at releasing guerrillas detained by the government
and people held by the rebels.

ef emw mem mf PL-26

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