ARGENTINA: Former FARC hostage Ingrid Betancourt meets Argentine President Cristina Fernandez

Record ID: 446622

  • Title: ARGENTINA: Former FARC hostage Ingrid Betancourt meets Argentine President Cristina Fernandez
  • Date: 2nd December 2008
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (DECEMBER 02, 2008) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF GOVERNMENT HOUSE
  • Embargoed: 17th December 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA5FSKZN8XP4CG4JEDKBINHEZP1
  • Story Text: Former FARC hostage Ingrid Betancourt meets with Argentine President Cristina Fernandez and expresses her gratitude to the Argentine people as she continues a South American tour to campaign in support of hundreds of remaining hostages.
    Former rebel hostage Ingrid Betancourt continued her South American tour on Tuesday (December 02) in Argentina, meeting with President Cristina Fernandez and expressing her solidarity with the Argentine people.
    Betancourt is on an eight-nation trip to meet with Latin American leaders and campaign for the release of hundreds of Colombians still being held by rebels.
    Forty-six-year-old Betancourt met with Fernandez as well as pop icon Madonna, who stopped by the presidential palace before performing on Tuesday.
    In a later news conference, the former Colombian presidential candidate said she was impressed by Fernandez and glad to finally meet her.
    "Today I saw her and her vital strength had an impact on me. She seems to me to be a very intelligent woman, very committed. I knew that when she decided to champion the cause of the Colombian hostages that she would do it, not because of protocol, not because it was politically correct. It is clear that in Argentina, more than in any other country, the suffering of the Colombians is understood," she said.
    Betancourt was snatched by FARC rebels while campaigning for president in 2002. This summer she was rescued in a daring government operation.
    Despite her return to normal life, she said she still feels a bond with the remaining hostages and spoke directly to them.
    "I know that Christmas is coming and I know the pain that is growing. With some dates I remember the happiness that you don't have - after your captivity, each time is more difficult. But I am with you, your chains are mine. I am absolutely sure that we are going to achieve your freedom. I ask God - and I know that he hears us - that this be the last Christmas that you will be in captivity," she said.
    Betancourt, who is a dual French-Colombian citizen, expressed her gratitude to the Argentine people.
    "I am here in Argentina. I come because it was necessary for me to come, it was something vital for me, essential. I came to meet with an extraordinary woman that has adopted me, that has helped me as if I were part of her family. In her person, I am grateful to a people, to the Argentine people, who have suffered with me, who have cried with me, who have prayed for me and on the day of my liberation have shared with me the happiness of living," she said.
    After Argentina, Betancourt will go to Peru, Chile, Brazil, Bolivia and Venezuela.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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