The Colombian government Tuesday justified the deadline -next December 31- it set for Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez to complete his work as facilitator of a likely humanitarian swap of hostages held by the rebel Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) for guerrilla troops imprisoned.

President Álvaro Uribe's High Commissioner for Peace Luis Carlos Restrepo read a communiqué setting the deadline on Monday, after Chávez said in Paris -where he met on Tuesday with his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy-, that they did not rule out a meeting between the heads of state and the top leader of the FARC, Manuel Marulanda Vélez.

In the communiqué, the Colombian Government explained that Uribe told Chávez in their recent meeting in Chile that he was likely to authorize him to meet with FARC chief and that the Colombian could attend the meeting too, but only following the release of all of the hostages and after a formal peace process has been launched, DPA reported.

Further, Bogotá disclosed that during their meeting in Chile, Uribe had told Chávez that the mediation efforts should be completed in December.

Restrepo explained that this move by the Colombian government is intended to prevent the FARC from delaying the process.

Restrepo reminded that the FARC envoys have met with both Chávez and Colombian Senator Piedad Córdoba -whom Uribe designated as facilitator. Therefore, new moves are expected to be made, including a statement from the FARC listing the names of the troops they want to be released.