The ninth World Summit of Nobel Laureates expressed its” deep concern “for the ongoing violence in Colombia, and asked that hostages be immediately freed and that talks be opened “between all those involved “in the situation. As the summit concluded, the Nobel Prize Laureates appealed for “immediate release of all hostages in Colombia and talks between all parties in the conflict to achieve a peaceful, just and democratic solution that would respect basic Human Rights”.

The signatories stated they were “deeply concerned by the continuing violence in Colombia”.

The message was read by South Africa’s former President, Frederik de Klerk who in 1993 shared the Nobel peace prize with Nelson Mandela, the anti- apartheid leader in that country.

Four other Nobel laureates also attended - Lech Walesa, John Hume, Mairead Corrigan Maguire and Betty Williams- as well as Ingrid Betancourt, former FARC hostage.

Ingrid Betancourt took the opportunity to launch a Foundation in her name, aimed at undertaking many projects “to help those who are suffering”, as she said.

The Ingrid Betancourt Foundation, La Fondation Ingrid Betancourt (FIB), wishes to be a “means to help those who are suffering” and “to build a force of love that will change attitudes and can in turn change the world”.

Ingrid Betancourt, former presidential candidate in Colombia, repeated that she had no intention of returning to active politics. She explained her initiative is based on the three major ideas, to promote peace, fight social injustice and environmental conservation.

Among the initial projects she hopes to develop and which initially will be confined to Colombia is one aimed at 14,15 year old teenagers who live in areas vulnerable to recruitment by FARC forces, often seen by them as the only way to improve their life.

“We are going to work so that these young people will achieve what they want to achieve”, set up a business, study at university or become artists, because” our objective is to break this vicious circle that pushes young people towards violence and war”, Ingrid Betancourt told the media.

Another initiative will be to set up a university” dedicated to the study of the 150 native languages in Colombia, “to protect them and keep them alive”.

Included in the formal objectives of the Foundation is the aim of ”nurturing in every way possible a peace process and national reconciliation in Colombia and in other parts of the world experiencing similar problems, involving the people as well as the international community,”.

To this end, Ingrid stated the role of the international community was “very important” because “the situation in Colombia affects the region itself, the South American continent and the world”.

“I am very hopeful that all the South American counties and their presidents will consider a common approach “, and that “in such a manner we can find a way to free the Colombian hostages”, a “very important step because when that is taken, we will see the way open towards peace in Colombia”, she said.

Asked about the possibility of receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, she declared “I will do what I have to do with a lot of humility” and she thanked all for the opportunity she had been given to introduce her foundation in the presence of people who had received this honour.

Ingrid Betancourt stated that the scope of FIB would go beyond Colombia, and that she was already looking at a project involving children in Belarus.

Regarding FARC, she explained that “they need to change”, that is to” replace their weapons with words” because as long as they continue to take hostages and attack the people”they will never be accepted as genuine participants in talks in Colombia, which is vital”.

“I want them to succeed in feeling included in a population that has changed a lot, in a country that has changed a lot, which I believe FARC are unaware of, where they only bring suffering and violence”, was her criticism.