President Hugo Chávez arrived in the Élysée Palace for a luncheon with his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy, whom he had promised to deliver a "proof of life" of French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt, who has been held hostage by the rebel Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC).

Chávez -wearing a black suit, a white shirt and a red tie- entered the official residence of the French President at 1:05 p.m. (local time). He was accompanied by his Foreign Affairs Minister Nicolás Maduro and Colombian Senator Piedad Córdoba. They declined talking to reporters.

Sarkozy welcomed Chávez and his entourage at the stairways of the Élysée Palace, AFP reported.

The meeting came following gloomy remarks made by Fabrice Delloye, Betancourt's ex husband, claiming that the Venezuelan President "so far does not have the proof of life" he pledged to produce.

Chávez "so far does not have the proof of life" he was supposed to deliver to Sarkozy, Delloye told French news network i-télé.

No official French or Venezuelan source accepted to comment on Delloye's remarks.