Álvaro Uribe Vélez in 2003. On Thursday, Colombia ended Hugo Chávez, the President of Venezuela, efforts in negotiating hostage releases with Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Álvaro Uribe, the President of Colombia ,  said that Chávez broke a November 10 agreement not to speak directly to Colombian military commanders. Melanie Betancourt campaigns in France for the release of her mother, Íngrid Betancourt. FARC, reportedly, hold hundreds of hostages in the jungles of Colombia. Their aim in the mediation was to trade some 50 hostages for 500 of their own, held in prisons of Colombia. FARC is offering high-profile hostages such as former Senator Íngrid Betancourt and three Americans as leverage. Íngrid Betancourt was kidnapped on February 23, 2002, while she was campaigning for the presidency of Colombia. She also holds French citizenship. When Chávez met Nicolas Sarkozy, the President of France on November 20, he was unable to provide proof that Betancourt was alive, but said that he had been told she was alive as recently as November 18. On Thursday, Sarkozy urged Uribe to reconsider. "We continue to think that President Chávez is the best chance for freeing Íngrid Betancourt and all the other hostages," said Sarkozy spokesperson David Martinon .
Álvaro Uribe Vélez in 2003. On Thursday, Colombia ended Hugo Chávez, the of Venezuela, efforts in negotiating hostage releases with (FARC). , the , said that Chávez broke a November 10 agreement not to speak directly to Colombian military commanders. FARC, reportedly, hold hundreds of hostages in the of Colombia. Their aim in the mediation was to trade some 50 hostages for 500 of their own, held in prisons of Colombia. FARC is offering high-profile hostages such as former Senator and three Americans as leverage. Íngrid Betancourt was kidnapped on February 23, 2002, while she was campaigning for the presidency of Colombia. She also holds French citizenship. When Chávez met Nicolas Sarkozy, the on November 20, he was unable to provide proof that Betancourt was alive, but said that he had been told she was alive as recently as November 18. On Thursday, Sarkozy urged Uribe to reconsider. "We continue to think that President Chávez is the best chance for freeing Íngrid Betancourt and all the other hostages," said Sarkozy spokesperson .
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President
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Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
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Álvaro Uribe, the President of Colombia
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the ,
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Melanie Betancourt campaigns in France for the release of her mother, Íngrid Betancourt.
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jungles
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Íngrid Betancourt
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President of France
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David Martinon