VENEZUELA: Top bands perform at "Turn on a Light for Peace in Colombia" concert in Caracas/ Colombian Senator says efforts to secure release of hostages by President Chavez are "Getting results"

Record ID: 349500

  • Title: VENEZUELA: Top bands perform at "Turn on a Light for Peace in Colombia" concert in Caracas/ Colombian Senator says efforts to secure release of hostages by President Chavez are "Getting results"
  • Date: 17th December 2007
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLOMBIAN SENATOR, PIEDAD CORDOBA, SAYING: "(French President Nicolas) Sarkozy fundamentally recognises what he (Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez) did, what it signifies, and it is incredible that the Democratic congressmen said during the week that they also would have continued the mediation with President Chavez, they would have continued with the
  • Embargoed: 1st January 2008 12:00
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  • Topics: International Relations,Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVA2ZC5Y74SITB0YOAVMKMRTR53B
  • Story Text: While top bands perform at "Turn on a Light for Peace in Colombia" concert in Caracas, Colombian Senator and former peace mediator says efforts by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to secure release of Colombian hostages was "getting results".
    Top bands from Colombia and Venezuela gathered in Caracas on Saturday (December 15) for the "Turn on a Light for Peace in Colombia" concert.
    Colombian Senator Piedad Cordoba, who had acted as a peace mediator before Bogota suspended efforts by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to broker a deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as the FARC, to free its hostages, arrived at the concert with Mayor Fredy Bernal.
    The failed talks triggered a diplomatic dispute between Venezuela and Colombia, but Colombian President Alvaro Uribe said he was willing to keep working with French President Nicolas Sarkozy to reach a hostage deal with the rebels. "(French President Nicolas) Sarkozy fundamentally recognises what he (Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez) did, what it signifies, and it is incredible that the Democratic congressmen said during the week that they also would have continued the mediation with President Chavez, they would have continued with the work we were doing because they were convinced that it was getting results," said Cordoba.
    Colombian-French politician Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. contract workers are among the high-profile hostages being held by the FARC.
    "To the FARC we say that we are waiting for a unilateral gesture with the people that are in their possession. With solidarity and working together for peace in Colombia and for peace in the world and before a cultural resistance we are sure that they will return and that President Chavez will be able to tell the world that we worked and fought and found a way for them to return to their homes," said Cordoba.
    Attempts to reach a hostage deal have been stymied by rebel demands that, to start talks, Uribe must pull troops from an area the size of New York City. Uribe, popular for his hardline stance, refuses saying it would allow the rebels to regroup.
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