In the German newspaper "Die Welt", an interview with Astrid, Ingrid Betancourt's sister, by Jochen Hehn:

DIE WELT: Mrs Betancourt, is there any news about your sister?

Astrid Betancourt: No, nothing new. Since she was kidnapped, we have received only three signs of life. The first was a fax in which she told our father that she had been kidnapped. The second, was a video received in August 2002, and then another received in September 2003, but made in May. Everything now goes back to over a year. There were also statements from members of the Farc secretariat who claimed that Ingrid was alive. This was also confirmed by several hostages who were relreased in return for a ransom, and who stated that they had seen her.

DIE WELT: Do you know where Ingrid is held?

Astrid Betancourt: No; ther are to many conflicting details to the be really sure. In addition, the area concerned, that is Farc controlled, is very large and inaccessible.

DIE WELT: There are rumours claiming that your sister is supposed to have tried three times to go on hunger strike and that she is suppsoed to had forcible injections to save her life?

Astrid Betancourt: My mother (Yolanda Pulecio) called us a fortnight ago in Paris, and told us what you say, that supposed;y came from a former Farco guerrilla. My mother was very anxious. However, I think it unlikely that someone who deserted the ranks of Farc will have anything positive to say about them. (ndlr: Astrid Betancourt thinks that this is a ploy to put the family at its wits' end and make it accept a military rescue operation). Ingrid knows the risks of a hunger strike because she went on one a few years ago, when fighting corruption, and that almost ended badly. She has two children (Melanie, 19 and Lorenzo, 16) whom she would never abandon.

DIE WELT: Is it true that FARC supposedly rejected a proposal from Alvaro Uribe of exchanging 50 guerrillas for 59 hostages, including your sister?

Astrid Betancourt: there again I doubt it. Until now, all attempts at bringing the government and Farc together were always frustrated by Uribe. A year and half ago, the Colombian Church was authorised by the president to facilitate secret negotiations between the government and the guerrillas; it managed to reach an agreement, that was then suddenly rejected by the government, who denied the concessions that it had been previously accepted. The mandate was then withdrawn from the Church. Last July, Switzerland offered to be a mediator and achieved some progress. But during the secret negotiations, the president yet again shot down the negotiation underway, by setting his conditions unilaterally. This is no good.

DIE WELT: How can this deadlock be overcome?

Astrid Betancourt: We must end this policy of confrontation with Farc and negotiate a humanitarian pact with them. Bush's re-election has, unfortunately, had effects in Colombia since it has encouraged Uribe in his war mentality rejecting any dialogue with Farc who to him are "terrorists". This policy is not compatible with respect for human rights. But the president is standing firm on his position of confrontation with Farc. He could, however, show that his government is in a strong position, by showing that it is amenable to signing a humanitarian agreement with the guerrilla fighters. I am convinced that it is with such a pact, and not through military confrontation, that the hostages' lives can be saved. It is not just Ingrid's life but that of the 3,000 hostages, that are at stake.

DIE WELT: The French government actively tried to obtain the release of your sister- unfortunately without success, which was described as a fiasco in the French Press.

Astrid Betancourt: the opposite is true. Since the outset, France has exercised its influence on president Uribe, by persuading him not to try and get my sister released by military intervention. That is why Ingrid is still alive. It might have been a fiasco, like the one in May last year, like the military operation that Uribe set up to free two hostages, which resulted in the death of the latter.

DIE WELT: Is it about adopting a hard position towards Farc?

Astrid Betancourt: Thuis issue of a hard line is placed in the international context of "combating terrorism". But Farc's fight should not be compared with the terrorist attacks of New York or Madrid. There has been guerrilla warfare in Colombia for more than 40 years. I cannot say that my mother or I feel hatred towards Farc: Who are they? The leadership comprises a secretariat of about 15 people. But there are thousands of ordinary soldiers who got involved because they have no other chance of earning their living. The same situation exists in the regular army. We know families where a son is in Farc and another serves in the Colombian army. The brothers are trying to survive. The country can only be united again by dialogue, not by military confrontation.

DIE WELT: Is International solidarity with your sister still strong, or has it slackened off?

Astrid Betancourt: We are helped a lot. International solidarity goes on. I hope that the European Union will also support the pursuit of a peaceful solution by the Colombian government. I feel that the admiration for the courageous political struggle that my sister lead against corruption in Colombia is felt throughout the world.

DUE WELT: How are you, and Ingrid's children personally experiencing this drama?

Astrid Betancourt: The solidarity around us, helps us a lot. I only arrived in Paris with my family a month and half ago. After my father died, he died one month after Ingrid was kidnapped, I stayed for my mother, to comfort her. At times like Christmas, birthdays, and family holidays it was unbearable for her to be alone. As we were known, getting help and assistance was much easier for us that for many Colombian soldiers who do not have the same opportunity, but who are experiencing the same difficult situation.

DIE WELT: And what about Ingrid's children?

Astrid Betancourt: Melanie lives on her own in Paris, where she is studying and organising her life. Lorenzo is in boarding school. I worry especially for him, because he is very attached to his mother. At the time of the kidnapping, he was a little boy of 13. It was a very tough time for him. Time has passed now and he has become a man. He suffers particularly from the kidnapping of his mother. We all feel concerned as if we had become orphans. But my mother suffers the most. She cannot bear not having had any news of Ingrid for over a year.

DIE WELT: Do you still have hope that your sister will return?

Astrid Betancourt: I'm convinced that I will see her again alive. Things do not happen by chance. I'm a person who is usually optimistic. I play guitar and I sing. But all that has changed (she wipes away a tear). It's hard!

Interview : Jochen Hehn (Die Welt)

Translation from French to English Miriam Lee traduction@eircom.net