EL UNIVERSAL

Colombian President Álvaro Uribe Tuesday called for a bipartisan US lawmaker representation to attend a meeting between Venezuelan ruler Hugo Chávez and members of the rebel Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) to negotiate a humanitarian hostage swap.

Uribe talked to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who endorses Chávez efforts to reach a humanitarian agreement to swap people held hostage by FARC for guerrilla troops in prison, Reuters reported.

France is closely monitoring the issue because one of the hostages held by FARC is former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt -a French citizen-, who was kidnapped in 2002. Further, FARC is holding dozens of Colombian politicians and three US nationals.

"I told him (Sarkozy) about the possibility that some US Congress delegates go over there and join President Chávez in his meeting with FARC," said Uribe, who is a close ally of Republican US President George W. Bush in Latin America.

The Colombian ruler stressed that his government rejects the return to Colombia of FARC guerrilla members Simón Trinidad and Sonia, who were extradited to the United States. Uribe ruled out the possibility that FARC-Chávez talks are held in a demilitarized area, just like the rebel group has demanded.

Uribe announced he would address the issue of the US congresspersons with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, yet he underscored that the delegation should comprise both Republican and Democrat lawmakers.

"This reasserts that Colombia has always sought this bipartisan approach with the US," said the Colombian ruler.

Uribe's move is seen as an attempt to reach out for the Democrats who are controlling the US Congress since last January.

Additionally, Uribe rejected claims that the fact that Chávez won all the credit if an agreement is reached would be "a serious" thing.

Proposal under assessment
President Chávez Tuesday declared he would consider the proposal made by Colombia to invite US representatives to his meeting with FARC. "We are going to systematize the proposal to understand what it means," he stated.

However, the Venezuelan president said he wanted to meeting with Raúl Reyes or "Marulanda" first, "on our own." "After that, they (US lawmakers) may come, if they want to. But first I am meeting with them (FARC) alone to present the proposals we have."

Translated by Maryflor Suárez R.
msuarez@eluniversal.com