EL UNIVERSAL
CARACAS, Wednesday March 17, 2010 | Update
Pastrana denies having authorized Chávez's meeting with FARC members
Politics
Former Colombian President Andrés Pastrana denied on Wednesday that his government (1998-2002) authorized a meeting between the Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and members of the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
In an interview with Spanish radio station Onda Cero, Pastrana rebutted Chávez's statements. The Venezuelan leader said that Pastrana asked him to hold a meeting with Raúl Reyes, a former FARC spokesman and "number two" of the Colombian guerrillas who was killed in March 2008, Efe reported.
Pastrana said on Wednesday that Chávez's statements "were not true." He stressed that "Chávez's memory is failing him."
"We never authorized Chávez to talk with Reyes," the former Colombian President insisted.
"President Chávez worked with us in the process of trying to advance a peace process with Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN), but never with the FARC," admitted Pastrana.
On the Cover
Venezuelan government gives aid to farmers hit by rains
02:57 PM. HEAVY RAINS. Venezuelan Executive Vice-President Elias Jaua reported that the government is designing plans to support farmers, cattlemen and peasants of the state of Mérida who have been hit by heavy rains that have caused crop losses.
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