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Bogota refuses Ortega's mediation with Farc rebels

Article published on the 2008-07-18 Latest update 2008-07-18 13:40 TU

The president of Colombia Alvaro Uribe (right) and his counterpart from Nicaragua Daniel Ortega (left).( Photo: Reuters )

The president of Colombia Alvaro Uribe (right) and his counterpart from Nicaragua Daniel Ortega (left).
( Photo: Reuters )

The Colombian government on Thursday rejected Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's offer to talk with the Farc guerrilla group. Ortega has accepted an invitation made in June to meet the rebels. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio da Silva is to visit Bogota this weekend and is offering to mediate in the government's conflict with the Farc.

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Recalling his own country's experience of civil war, Ortega last Wednesday said he was prepared to contribute to the Colombian peace process by holding a dialogue with the Marxist rebels.   

But the government of President Alvaro Uribe refused the offer.

"The Colombian government does not authorize or endorse any process that Mr Ortega expects to have in connection with a terrorist organization, in this case the Farc," the official statement said.

In a letter last month which was shown on Venezuelan television on Monday, Farc rejected any talks with the Uribe government but offered to speak with Ortega or a delegate about "these topics of war and peace".

Ortega broke off diplomatic relations with Colombia after a raid into  Ecuadorian territory on 1 March that killed Farc's second-in-command Raul Reyes.

The letter had been written before this month's liberation of hostages, including Franco-Colombian Ingrid Betancourt.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is to travel to Colombia on the weekend. 

Officials say he will repeat his offer to mediate in Bogota's conflict with the rebels, notably by joining "a group of countries that would facilitate negotiations" to free hostages.

He also wants to set up a South American defense council, to establish formal dialogue on regional military matters. Uribe has so far said he will keep his country out of such a group.