President Nicolas Sarkozy reminded President Alvaro Uribe’s special envoy that France was opposed to any military rescue to release Ingrid Betancourt, the French-Colombian hostage held by Farc.

The French President had a half-hour meeting at the Elysée Palace with Luis Carlos Rostrepo, the Colombian High Commissioner for Peace, according the a spokesperson.

“This meeting is part of efforts of the president of the Republic to obtain freedom for Ingrid Betancourt, a matter of the utmost priority”, stated press officer David Martinon.

President Sarkozy reminded Luis Carlos Rostrepo that the freeing of Ingrid Betancourt and the other hostages ought to be achieved as part of a negotiated settlement and a humanitarian agreement”, he added. “He said he is available and willing to help in this matter”.

Nicolas Sarkozy had spoken about the fate of the former presidential candidate in the Colombian elections during a telephone conversation with Alvaro Uribe last Thursday. He had then requested the Colombian President to send Luis Carlos Rostrepo “to Paris as soon as possible”” recalled David Martinon.

President Sarkozy met members of the Betancourt family at the Elysée Palace last Thursday.

That same day, Alvaro Uribe had ordered the army to free the French-Colombian hostage despite the opposition of the French government to any military rescue. However, on Saturday the Colombian President promised to take into consideration the views of the French government in this regard.