Minister pledges support for FARC hostage release
An Irish minister today met the husband of a kidnapped Colombian politician to assure him of the State’s support in the fight to free his wife.
Minister of State for European Affairs Noel Treacy held talks with Juan Carlos Lecompte, the husband of Ingrid Betancourt who was kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) more than three years ago.
Ms Betancourt, a candidate in the country’s last presidential elections, has remained in captivity since her abduction on February 23, 2002.
A member of the Green Party, her case has attracted widespread international attention.
Minister Treacy assured Mr Lecompte that the Government shares his concern about the plight of his wife and the many others who are held hostage in Colombia.
“Ireland, together with our EU partners, strongly condemns the practice of hostage-taking and kidnapping and we call upon all illegal armed groups in Colombia to release hostages immediately and unconditionally,” he said.
“Ireland strongly supported the calls made at the Cartagena international meeting in support of the Colombian peace process on February 3, 2005, and by the Commission on Human Rights on 21 April 2005, for the immediate release of all kidnap victims.”
