Chavez offers to help end Colombia conflict

[struggle4progress]

CARACAS (AFP) — ...

"The government of Colombia and the insurgent forces of Colombia should seek, with our help, in good faith, a regularization of the war first and then a peace agreement," he said in the opening session of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela's inaugural congress. "It's been 60 years of war and it does not have a military solution. I am completely sure of that" ... http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jtcYPLrBDzpAxNNuOWDULwWqNqGA


Chavez says no military solution to war in Colombia
Sat Jan 12, 2008 8:06pm EST

CARACAS, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Saturday that Colombia's long guerrilla war had no military solution and peace talks would only prosper when rebel armies there were labeled insurgents, not terrorists ...

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN12347581


Chavez angers Colombia
12/01/2008 10:03 - (SA)

... He said the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, and the National Liberation Army "are not terrorists, they are true armies ... They must be recognised" ...

After tearful reunions with relatives waiting in Caracas, the Colombians Clara Rojas and Consuelo Gonzalez greeted Chavez with hugs and kisses.

Chavez said he hoped the success could be repeated for former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and dozens of other captives, including three Americans.

But he said that largely depends on Uribe.

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_2250550,00.html


Chavez: Take FARC off terror list

CARACAS, Venezuela (CNN) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called Friday for Europe to remove from its list of terrorist organizations two Colombian groups -- including FARC, the group that freed two hostages Thursday in a mission Chavez organized ...

"I request from the governments of the continent that they will remove the FARC and the ELN," Chavez said ...

"I will ask Europe to remove the ELN and the FARC from the list of terrorist groups in the world, because that only has one source: the pressure of the United States," Chavez said ...

Chavez said his nation is committed to bringing about peace in Colombia, a task that means "we must continue to work at the various levels" with FARC and ELN ...

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/01/11/chavez.farc/


Colombia, FARC at impasse despite hostage release
Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:28pm EST
By Hugh Bronstein

BOGOTA (Reuters) - ...

Families of some of the hundreds of other hostages hope this will lead to further breakthroughs. They want Uribe's conservative government to be more flexible in negotiating a swap of captives -- including soldiers, police and politicians -- for jailed rebels fighting a long war that kills thousands of people every year.

But Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos said Thursday's release proves there is no need to grant the FARC's key demand for a safe-haven area where armed guerrillas could enter and turn over dozens of high-profile captives.

"This mission showed that a safe haven is not necessary," Santos told Reuters, calling on the FARC to unconditionally free the more than 700 hostages the government says are being held by the four-decade-old guerrilla army.

The impasse over a safe zone leaves dozens of "exchangeable" captives such as French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt in limbo ...

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsMaps/idUSN1144707120080112