French President Nicolas Sarkozy is convinced that "if someone can contribute as solution" to the "acutely difficult" issue of the hostages held by the rebel Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC), it is Venezuelan head of State Hugo Chávez, said the French president's diplomatic advisor Jean-David Levitte, as quoted by Efe.

The issue of the humanitarian swap was addressed by Sarkozy and Chávez during a working lunch in the Champs-Élysées, reported Levitte.

Sarkozy's diplomatic advisor did not give the details of the meeting, but said France is hoping Chávez's mediation could be successful in a relatively short term.

"We are going to keep working" with Colombian President Álvaro Uribe and Chávez's mediation.