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 News Around the Republic of Mexico | December 2007 
France Asks for Mexico's Help in Colombian Hostage Crisis
 Agence France-Presse
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| | A man reads a newspaper showing a recently released picture of former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt 01 December 2007, in Bogota. France will be discreet in its efforts to secure the release of French-Colombian Betancourt and 45 other hostages held by Colombian rebels, Paris's ambassador to Bogota Jean-Michel Marlaud told reporters Monday. (AFP/Mauricio Duenas) |
Mexico City - French President Nicolas Sarkozy has asked Mexican President Felipe Calderon to help in efforts to free 45 hostages held by Colombian rebels, Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa said in Buenos Aires according to local media.
"We've received a letter from President Sarkozy to President Calderon asking for help (in the) humanitarian" mediation efforts, Espinosa told journalists in the Argentine capital, as reported by Mexico City's Reforma newspaper on its website.
Espinosa and numerous other heads of state and foreign dignitaries were in Buenos Aires Monday for the inauguration of Argentina's new President Cristina Kirchner, wife of now former president Nestor Kirchner.
Sarkozy earlier this month agreed to mediate in Colombia's efforts to secure the release of 45 prominent hostages, including French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt - whose fate greatly interests France.
The French president stepped into the hostage crisis after Colombian President Alvaro Uribe terminated Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's three-month mediating effort for unauthorized contacts with a Colombian general.
Espinosa said Mexico had consulted Uribe about Sarkozy's request, which she said Mexico was willing to take up.
"At this point, we're willing to make any effort the Colombian government requests," she said, adding that Bogota and Mexico were in "permanent contact" over the matter.
The Marxist rebels want 500 of their members to be freed from prison in return for the hostages' release. |
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