Astrid Betancourt, sister of Ingrid spoke on Radio Caracol and requested that the government meet with FARC. She confirmed that President Alvaro Uribe approved a recent meeting between the envoy sent by the French president, Jacques Chirac and the FARC spokesperson Raul Reyes in an effort to obtain the liberation of hostages.

This secret and confidential meeting is part of a support strategy that France has offered to Colombia with regard to the hostage situation and we think it a positive step that Alvaro Uuribe approved of this meeting" stated Astrid who has just arrived in Colombia, coming from Paris to prepare for the visit of the mayor of that city to Bogotá.

Madame Betancourt stated that although details of the meeting between the French envoy and FARC are not yet known, President Uribe must now take action and allow, as soon as possible, the implementation of a safe zone so that the Commissioner for Peace and the spokespersons for the guerrilla can meet there and bring about the humanitarian agreement that may allow the liberation of hostages.

"It is time for President Uribe to show the International Community that he is willing to allow those who are kidnapped go free, as he stated in France and at the European Assembly", said Astrid Betancourt.

Yolanda Pulecio, Ingrid's mother stated on Radio Caracol that she felt a little more reassured in so far as she had obtained assurances that her daughter, although detained, is alive and in good health. Yolanda Pulecio hopes that this recent meeting is a necessary step towards the liberation of her daughter. .