EL UNIVERSAL

Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Miguel Ángel Moratinos said Spain is not changing its stance regarding the rebel Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces, which are viewed as a terrorist group by the country, as well as the remaining member states of the European Community.

Moratinos stressed that Spain has "always" been in the EU -an organization that regards the FARC "as a terrorist group, and we are not going to change that," Efe quoted.

Moratinos was replying to Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, who asked the European Union to remove the FARC from a list of terrorist organizations.

The diplomat claimed that such a stance "does not prevent us from seeking a humanitarian agreement," and advocated for renewed efforts for the release of the hostages held by the FARC.

Meanwhile, Baltasar Garzón, a judge of the Spanish high court, branded as "absolutely condemnable" "the fanfare or circus show" Chávez staged to get the release of two Colombian hostages held by the FARC.

"Besides excessive, I think it was absolutely condemnable," the justice said.
 
Regarding Chávez's petition to remove the guerrilla groups from the lists of terrorist organizations worldwide, Garzón argued the proposal was "cynical," and showed "little idea of" the actions these groups have performed for more than 30 years.

Further, Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge Castañeda said that "either by himself or with allies," President Chávez has enough influence to make the FARC mend their "fiasco."

According to Castañeda, the release of Clara Rojas and Consuelo González -who were freed thanks to Chávez's mediation- showed the influence Chávez has on the FARC. "Their release shows that Chávez, either by himself or with allies, has real ascendancy over the FARC. Therefore, he may talk them into repairing the damages they made with a fiasco such as the episode of Emmanuel (Rojas' son born in captivity)."

"The Venezuelan and international public opinion no longer buy this kind of maneuver. The question is not how Chávez scored, but who passed the ball," Castañeda added.

José Obdulio Gaviria, an aide of Colombian President Álvaro Uribe, said: "The FARC are not a state under construction or a belligerent force or an insurgent political party, but they are a gloomy terrorist organization," that holds people hostage.

According to press reports in Colombia, the FARC were "devising an international plan" to seek their removal from the list of terrorist groups. Therefore, they secretly with a number of European and Latin American government representatives to boost their initiative.

Translated by Maryflor Suárez R.
Msuarez@eluniversal.com

Read the special feature about the humanitarian swap in Colombia at:
http://www.eluniversal.com/CHCol_indexEng.shtml