In the publication "Revista Cambio, an open letter (below) to the French Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin, by the Colombian senator Antonio Navarro Wolff, a Colombian senator, former manager of the ex-guerrilla movement M19 and former minister of Health under Cesar Gaviria.

Dominique de Villepin
Prime Minister
French Republic

Dear Prime Minister,

Forty months ago, during the last presidential campaign, Farc kidnapped INGRID BETANCOURT.

Since then, thanks to its efforts, those of her family, and those of many citizens in Colombia, in France and in other countries across all continents, she has become the symbol of freedom in the world, without this having impelled her captors to end her captivity.

However, two circumstances now let us consider the viability and the chance of new initiatives for Íngrid and other FARC prisoners, namely:

- For the first time there is in the French government a leader, in the person of yourself, who knows the reality of Colombia in depth and can evaluate our country's efforts to attain peace.

- Farc has given a new sign of their interest in a dialogue through one of its commandants, Raúl Reyes, in an interview with the France Presse agency, dated 4 July. And although they repeat that "to release all the prisoners" they are demanding "a global negotiation with the Colombian government", Farc also say they are disposed towards "dialogue" with the United States and with "any other government" on this topic.

I am writing this to indicate to you that the Reyes statements open up a slim hope of a chance for your Government to progress negotiations with Farc, that could lead to Ingrid's release before she ends her fourth year of captivity. Consequently, I am suggesting that you explore the possibility of grasping this chance, slim and all as it seems.

I am sure that Ingrid's release can trigger the release of the other hostages and create the necessary climate for the peace negotiations to develop at last between the government that will take up office in August 2006 and the Colombian guerrillas.

Dear Prime Minister, You now have the chance of transforming the crisis produced by Ingrid's absence into an occasion for achieving a negotiated peace in this country.

I do not wish to end this letter without belatedly congratulating you on your honourable nomination as Prime Minister and wishing you the greatest success in your task.

Sincerely,

Antonio Navarro Wolff
Senator of the Colombian Republic

[Translation from French: Miriam L e: interpreter@eircom.net]