INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Goc Tries to Define Rules of the Game For

Published: Wed 9 Jan 2008 11:46 AM
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TAGS: PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER VZ CO
SUBJECT: GOC TRIES TO DEFINE RULES OF THE GAME FOR
HUMANITARIAN COMMISSIONS TO RECOVER FARC-HELD HOSTAGES
REF: BOGOTA 54
1. Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo said on January 8
that the GOC would only accept future international
"humanitarian missions" to free Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia (FARC)-held hostages if commission members agreed to
three GOC conditions: respect the GOC, be discreet, and
maintain permanent communication. Restrepo reiterated
previous GOC guarantees to allow a possible international
mission to move forward (including Venezuelan participation)
to recover hostages Clara Rojas and Consuelo Gonzalez de
Perdomo. He also voiced the GOC's full confidence in the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and their
protocols to recover the hostages. Finally, Restrepo said
the GOC remained in communication with the Venezuelan
Government regarding a possible mission.
2. Restrepo's announcement followed a statement by Foreign
Minister Fernando Araujo on January 5 that the GOC would not
accept new international humanitarian commissions similar to
the failed year-end commission organized by Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez (reftel) to recover Rojas, her son
Emmanuel, and Consuelo Gonzalez de Perdomo. Araujo said the
commission's lack of knowledge of the Colombian situation,
criticism of the GOC, and defense of the FARC caused the GOC
to review its policy. Araujo cited Venezuelan demands that
the GOC explain how the Emmanuel case developed, saying, "the
Venezuelans should ask for explanations from the FARC, since
they are the ones who deceived them."
3. Sergio Caramagna, head of the Organization of American
States' Mission in Support of the Peace Process in Colombia
(OAS-MAPP), told the media that the events of the failed
Chavez mission "spoke for themselves in a very eloquent
manner," and justified the GOC's decision to refine its
policy towards authorizing the commissions. Caramagna's
statements followed a GOC appeal to the international
community to respect Colombia's democratic institutions.
Brownfield
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