Psychoblues
07-16-2008, 09:00 PM
They're kidding, right?
By Marc Wolfensberger
July 16 (Bloomberg) -- Switzerland has started a ``diplomatic procedure'' aimed at getting Colombia to stop harassing Swiss mediator Jean-Pierre Gontard, who helped release prisoners held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry is taking ``very seriously'' Colombian media reports about the ``possible opening'' by Bogota of an investigation against Gontard, it said in an e-mailed statement late yesterday. The ministry reiterated its support for Gontard, who ``together with the French mediator worked in an extremely difficult environment, often risking their lives.''
Last week, Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos accused the Swiss mediator of conveying $500,000 to the FARC after the release of two hostages in 2001, according to an interview with Colombian newspaper El Tiempo. The Swiss Foreign Affairs Ministry has since confirmed that a payment was made following the release of two employees working for a Swiss company, but it denies Gontard carried the money.
Colombia's ambassador to Switzerland, Claudia Jimenez, said last week that her country would no longer rely on Swiss mediation efforts to liaise with the FARC.
More: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aLs6oRQN3jBU&refer=latin_america
Nope, I don't think they are, do you?
By Marc Wolfensberger
July 16 (Bloomberg) -- Switzerland has started a ``diplomatic procedure'' aimed at getting Colombia to stop harassing Swiss mediator Jean-Pierre Gontard, who helped release prisoners held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry is taking ``very seriously'' Colombian media reports about the ``possible opening'' by Bogota of an investigation against Gontard, it said in an e-mailed statement late yesterday. The ministry reiterated its support for Gontard, who ``together with the French mediator worked in an extremely difficult environment, often risking their lives.''
Last week, Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos accused the Swiss mediator of conveying $500,000 to the FARC after the release of two hostages in 2001, according to an interview with Colombian newspaper El Tiempo. The Swiss Foreign Affairs Ministry has since confirmed that a payment was made following the release of two employees working for a Swiss company, but it denies Gontard carried the money.
Colombia's ambassador to Switzerland, Claudia Jimenez, said last week that her country would no longer rely on Swiss mediation efforts to liaise with the FARC.
More: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aLs6oRQN3jBU&refer=latin_america
Nope, I don't think they are, do you?