Buenos Aires (Argentina) : "We must save Ingrid Betancourt"...

The investiture ceremony of Argentina’s new President, Christina Kirchner which brought together the majority of South-American heads of state would have been a strong international lobby in favour of the freeing of French-Colombian Ingrid Betancourt to the great satisfaction of French Prime Minister, Francois Fillon and of course, her mother Yolanda Pulecio. The latter was welcome by much applause during an official dinner organised by the outgoing president of Argentina, Nestor Kirchner.”We have among us a mother who is suffering”, he said, as he introduced her.

“We will work together and listen to the appeal made by French President, Nicolas Sarkozy”, stated Christina Kirchner who officially succeeded her husband yesterday as president of Argentina.

Very moved, Yolanda Pulecio expressed her hope: “ I know that Ingrid is alive today due to the efforts of France and I cannot find words strong enough to thank the government and the people of France. I hope that everyone will become aware that she must be freed as a matter of urgency”. Holding back a sob, she added: “ I hope this will be before Christmas.” As a first test in diplomacy, the Prime Minister stated his resolution; to leave Ingrid Betancourt in the Colombian jungle and allow her to be forgotten would be a crime. France wants to have her appeal heard even in the depths of the Colombian forest.”

“International Appeals”

Yesterday, Fillon had several mmetings After the President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, and the Bolivian Evo Morales, he met with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe at the French Embassy. Afterwards, Uribe, grim-faced, maintained his usual firm stance; “I hope the guerrillas will hear the international appeals and free their hostages. We want to tell the French people that we understand the sorrow of those held hostage, but we have lived with this tragedy for 50 years. During the last ten years, 750 were captured by FARC.”

The majority of French journalists, corralled in a room in the French embassy, were unable to see Uribe (no more than the other South American leaders) and had to make do with a brief statement by Fillon. ”I told him the eyes of the world are on Colombia and that every humanitarian initiative that can be taken by his government would have a positive effect on democracy in Colombian and his country’s image, he stated. I hope that this day will have been helpful in bringing about the freeing of Ingrid Betancourt”…

In Buenos Aires, Francois Fillon will have met six heads of state. To what end? Doubtless nothing extraordinary. “With the six, I used the same language, he stressed. France is asking them to do everything to free Ingrid Betancourt before it is too late. It is in the interests of everyone that she would not be lost. That would be terrible.”