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Wednesday, December 03, 2008

F24 exclusive interview with Hugo Chavez

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez spoke to FRANCE 24's Pascale Mariani and Roméo Langlois about his negotiations with FARC leaders on the release of hostages.

By  Pascale Mariani and Roméo Langlois (FRANCE 24 correspondents in Caracas)

Venezuela's president has said he hopes for a breakthrough in the long-running hostage crisis in Colombia, and that he hopes to bring French President Nicolas Sarkozy - on his November 20 visit - proof that Franco-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt is still alive. Chavez said that after last week's meeting with a FARC representative, he is asking his Colombian counterpart, Alvaro Uribe, for permission to meet FARC leader Manuel Marulanda.
  
 
 
Q. You were invited to meet with Nicolas Sarkozy. Will you bring him news of Ingrid Betancourt?
  
 
 
Chavez:  I am coming to France with an invitation from Nicolas Sarkozy and I'm looking forward to it very much, after he told me on the phone that we can become good friends. The main theme of our meeting will concern the humanitarian exchange, which includes Ingrid. And yes, I believe that I can bring good news to Sarkozy. But I will also have some demands, because he wants to - and surely is able to - help find a formula, a point of compromise, to reach an agreement between the Colombian government, led by President Uribe, and the leaders of FARC. I hope I can bring proof that Ingrid is still alive. I don't have this proof yet, but I hope to get it before I arrive in Paris on the 20th of November.
 
Q. What could be France's contribution to this humanitarian exchange?
 
Chavez:  As you know, it's a very delicate issue. I'm going to talk to the president about it. After my conversation with Sarkozy, we will certainly determine a little more precisely what exactly France's contribution could be. At this point it would be premature for me to discuss it further.
 
Q. Do you expect to get the green light from President Uribe to go meet Manuel Marulanda, chief of FARC, in the Colombian jungle? And, if so, could you possibly return with the hostages?
 
Chavez: As I told Sarkozy, I think the meeting with Marulanda is necessary. We have to do all we can for this meeting to take place. And, yes, I think this meeting is possible. I spoke about it with Uribe recently while in Santiago, Chile, and we are working for this to happen. And as I told Marulanda, via commander Ivan Marquez, whom I have spoken with several times for several hours, if the meeting happens Chavez cannot return empty-handed from the meeting. I am therefore hoping this meeting will take place and that it will facilitate the humanitarian accord.
[5] reactions :

  • Saturday, December 1, 2007

    Chavez interview

    By  Diana Marcus

    The 'lose canons' are here in the US. namely Bush and Cheney.
    Chavez is smart, honest and reasonable. An excellent interview.

  • Friday, November 16, 2007

    President Chavez is best person for these negotiations

    By  S. Pate

    Pleased to see that Canal 24 did the interview with President Chavez where I think he quite adequately demonstrated his careful pursuit of a successful conclusion to the very difficult situation in Colombia. Mr. Chavez is to be commended and certainly never should he be told by anyone, including the King of Spain, to "shut up."

  • Friday, November 16, 2007

    Chavez

    By  Stan Young

    I don't see Hugo Chavez as controversial. I feel that people calling him a dictator are factually flawed. He won a couple of elections and won recall election. That is about as democratic as a country can get. Instead of Oil profits in the hands of the few, Cuban Doctors are now helping out the rural and urban poor in Venezuela. Doctors for Oil, trade based on human need. That should be immitated and luminated for the pulbic to discuss because if the people of the world could have that option I think we know what they would choose.

  • Thursday, November 15, 2007

    Reaction to Chavez

    By  J. Rojas

    We should give Chavez a chance to prove what he can do for the Colombian hostages & their families. The current standoff with the Colombian government is not yielding results, so itś worth a try. There are human lives at stakes in a political game.

  • Thursday, November 15, 2007

    Chavez will succeed in Colombia

    By  Kenneth T. Tellis

    Senor Hugo Chavez Frias will keep his promise by bringing home the hostages. From the very start the Bush regime had hoped that the efforts of the Venezuelan president would end up in failure, but Senor Chavez will not let that sand in his way. He will succeed no matter what attempts are made by the White House to sabotage his efforts for the release of the hostages in Colombia.

    All success to Hugo Chavez Frias in this humanitarian effort. Viva Chavez! Viva Venezuela!

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