[NYTr] Colombian Senator: Latest Uribe Flip-Flop a Blow

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Prensa Latina, Havana
http://www.plenglish.com

Colombia Sen.: Uribe Decision A Blow

Caracas, Nov 22 (Prensa Latina) Colombian Senator Piedad Cordoba told
press on Thursday that President Alvaro Uribe"s decision to put an end
to mediation for a humanitarian agreement with the insurgents "came as
a complete shock."

Noting this means she will not go to Bogota with Venezuelan President
Hugo Chavez to present the progress in the negotiations, Cordoba said
this decision needs "lots of serenity and calm, without considering it
as a war." She said she would meet soon with the Venezuelan president
to thank him for his work as a facilitator for a humanitarian agreement
between the authorities and the guerrillas, but that the situation is
now the responsibility of her country"s government and she would avoid
further comment.

With Uribe"s support, Chavez met representatives of the Colombian
Revolutionary Armed Forces -FARC- and the National Liberation Army ELN-
to seek favorable ways to release guerrillas detained by the government
and people in the hands of the insurgents.

Venezuelan Anzoategui Gov. Tarek William called the Colombian decision
to suspend the president's mediation a mistake.

The governor said it appears the Colombian government was "lying in
wait for any pretext to cutoff Chavez" mediation," considering that the
Venezuelan president was gaining an "extremely positive" fame in the
neighboring country.

hr ccs iom mem PL-47