New Mexico Geovernor Bill Richardson meets Chavez over American FARC hostages

Caracas, Venezuela, 26 April 2008. Tonight,  New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson met with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias to advocate for the release of three American hostages -Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell-kept by the Revolutionary Forces of Colombia (FARC) since 2003. In a press conference at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Richardson explained he did not come to Venezuela as an official representative of his government nor the Organization of American States (OAS). Richardson clarified he came to Caracas on behalf of the families of the three Americans kept hostages by FARC.  Then, Governor Richardson informed he was very optimistic after a very productive meeting with President Chavez. Richardson explained Chavez was willing to intervene in favour of the Humanitarian deal with FARC. A meeting with Colombian Senator Piedad Cordoba would also take place soon, he said. Finally, Richardson expressed his concern over the fate and health of Colombian French hostage Ingrid Betancourt; he then said all hostages deserved to be freed.

As Energy Secretary, Bill Richardson attended the inauguration of President Chavez 10 years ago. He made friends with various Venezuelan officials who helped him arrange for the meeting. Governor Richardson will remain in Venezuela until Sunday.

In previous statements this week, FARC stated it did not wish to negotiate further unilateral hostage releases. It also expressed the need to proceed with the demilitarization of a territory for 45 days in order to negotiate and facilitate the exchange of prisoners and hostages. Furthermore, President Chavez stated earlier today that such humanitarian deal was an internal affair of Colombia but he was up to help if asked. It also emerged, French Minister for Foreign Affairs, Bernard Kouchner would be touring Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela to boost negotiations to liberate hostages. This new French initiative has not been received enthusiastically by Fabrice Delloye,   ex husband of Ingrid Betancourt. A previuos unilateral French initiative to provide hostages with medical help did fail bsdly. It did not count with the approval of FARC at all.

Sources: VTV, Globovision, PrInside, Telesur, YVKE, El Nacional, RNV, El Pais.es,

Related stories: FARC and France disagree over Ingrid Betancourt, Chavez asked FARC Marulanda to liberate Ingrid Betancourt (updated II),