President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Tuesday
reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to helping with the peace
process in Colombia and operations to release hostages held by
Colombian rebels.
During a meeting in Brasilia with Colombian
President Alvaro Uribe, Lula said he was willing to offer a hand
whenever asked and hailed the success of operations in early February
that freed two politicians, three police officers and a soldier.
The Brazilian government provided
logistic support for the operation, lending Colombia two Cougar
helicopters. A team of 16 Brazilian soldiers also took part in the
rescue.
Brazil also announced its willingness to accept demobilized Colombian guerillas who renounced armed conflict.
Uribe thanked the Brazilian government’s offer in helping with the hostage releases.
“You have helped us make the
terrorists understand that there is an opportunity for the peace, as
long as they abandon the violence,” he said.
Uribe said that Brazil represents
to its neighbors a hope in a moment of crisis, with its capacity for
investments and for propelling Latin America’s economic growth.
During the meeting, the two
presidents signed an agreement to form a bilateral committee that will
study the establishment of a preferential Brazil-Colombia relation. (Xinhua)