Chavez asks meeting with FARC Marulanda (updated)

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Chavez asks meeting with FARC Marulanda

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On November 8, 2007, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez Frias asked for a meeting with Manuel Marulanda, chief of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia–People's Army (FARC). This request is part of a number of actions made by the Venezuelan government for the humanitarian relief of hostages kept by FARC in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Colombia.  After a meeting in Caracas with FARC representative Iván Márquez, Chavez asked for recent life proof of hostages in order to proceed with the humanitarian swap. Ingrid Betancourt, a French-Colombian politician, is one of the hostages. 

Since the beginning of the Venezuelan mediation, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Colombians and some American citizens have followed the negotiations with a renewed enthusiasm. Nevertheless, this is not an easy mediation at all.  FARC wants 500 rebel prisoners freed in exchange for the release of hostages. It is also asking for demilitarization of two territories and the release of two notorious FARC members detained in the US: Simon Trinidad and Sonia.  In addition, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has little faith in the humanitarian initiative. No wonder, Chavez compared mediation with the opening of a very heavy door.

On Thusrday, local media said Colombian government was rather appalled by the news of the meeting with Marquez as it had not heard of it beforehand. However, the Venezuelan government immediately denied such allegations. Then, news signalled Ivan Marquez would be participating in an alternative conference - Cumbre de los Pueblos - at Santiago de Chile while a Ibero-American Summit took place. Such suggestions angered Colombian goverment again. It asked Chile to detain Marquez were he to attend such alternative conference. 

Colombian senator Piedad Cordoba, a former hostage herself, has contributed enormously to the current negotiations. Furthermore, this humanitarian initiative has boosted the international image of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. He is expected to meet with President Sarkozy by the end of November 2007.

Sources: Telesur, BBC, Unionradio, Vive,El Universal, Globovision, El Tiempo, VTV, Caracol, ABN, El Nuevo Siglo, RNV, AP Wire, El Pais, PressTV, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Liberation, El Mundo, RFI