French President Nicolas Sarkozy Monday stated that Europe should continue to view the rebel Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) as a terrorist organization, thus rejecting a proposal made by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez.

"France continues to support the stance of the European Community concerning the description of the FARC" as a terrorist organization, Sarkozy told President Álvaro Uribe, who is paying an official visit to France, according to the spokesman of the French ruler, David Martinon.

"From France's standpoint, this issue will only be reconsidered if there is a change in behavior by the FARC," Sarkozy said.