A delegation from the French government was traveling to Colombia Monday ahead of the expected release of kidnapped journalist Romeo Langlois.
The French ambassador, Pierre-Jean Vandoorne, confirmed that the International Committee of the Red Cross and hostage negotiator Piedad Cordoba will then assist in finalizing the plan to recover Langlois who the FARC guerrilla group promised to release Wednesday.
“We will see that coordination later when we have present all members of the committee to receive Romeo Langlois,” said the ambassador, according to local media.
On Sunday, the FARC released a statement claiming that Langlois would be freed on Wednesday, May 30, to the international committee that has been spearheading negotiations.
The French filmmaker and reporter was detained by the FARC on April 28 following a battle between the rebels and the Colombian armed forces, with whom Langlois was embedded.
He was on assignment with France 24 television when the soldiers came under attack, and he reportedly ran to the FARC forces after being injured.
Langlois appears to be in good health, Vandoorne said. He added that the journalist is expected to return to France after his release.
A statement from the Colombian Ministry of Defense, the French ambassador and the ICRC states that the FARC will notify the committee by 7AM Wednesday morning of the exact location where Langlois will be released. All military activity will then be suspended in the surrounding area until 6AM on May 31.
