Cuba’s ambassador to Colombia offered Saturday to mediate the
deadlocked release of FARC hostage Pablo Emilio Moncayo, who the
guerrillas promised to release.
Cuban ambassador Jose Antonio Perez said his country is willing to assume mediation while visiting the central Colombian city of Manizales.
According to Perez, Cuba will mediate hostage releases if Bogota allows this. The ambassador said his country for a long time has been ready to help Colombia achieve peace.
The process to liberate Moncayo is deadlocked, because the FARC insists the mediation of opposition senator Piedad Cordoba. The Colombian government refuses to allow Cordoba and accuses her and the guerrillas of trying to turn the release into a political show.
Colombia has rejected any foreign mediation since the rescue of Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. contracters in July 2008.