Ecuador and France call for release of FARC hostages

Both countries have agreed that they should convince the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) that it is “necessary” to free “all the hostages,” Larrea said after a meeting with visiting French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. He added that Kouchner had reiterated the French government’s “determination” to “accomplish the liberation of all hostages” held by the FARC in Colombia, including Ingrid Betan court, a former Colombian presidential candidate who holds both French and Colombian citizenship. Earlier, Kouchner also held talks with Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, who agreed that it is necessary to resume contacts with FARC representatives to free the hostages. According to an Ecuadorian diplomatic source, Kouchner and Correa discussed the Ecuadorian-Colombian diplomatic crisis to seek the re-establishment of relations between the two countries, which were broken last month after Colombia carried out a military incursion into Ecuador to attack a FARC base. Before leaving Ecuador, the second leg of his three-nation tourin South America, Kouchner said France hopes to “appease” the diplomatic tension to create conditions that could facilitate the release of FARC-held hostages. The French top diplomat has already visited Colombia and his trip also includes a visit to Venezuela.