Church in Colombia reiterates willingness to mediate in liberation of hostages

Bogotá, Colombia, Jul 8, 2009 / 14:41 pm

The president of the Bishops’ Conference of Colombia, Archbishop Ruben Salazar, together with other Colombian bishops, has reiterated his willingness to mediate and collaborate in the liberation of hostages still being held by the FARC.
 
According to a press release, Archbishop Salazar said, “We are always willing to participate as much as possible.”  “We have always asked the FARC and the other groups that are holding hostages to liberate them as soon as possible.  It is a request we make from our hearts: peace,” he added.
 
Cardinal Pedro Rubiano Saenz of Bogota said the members of the bishops’ conference “have always been willing to collaborate in everything that has to do with peace.”  “The country hopes they liberate all persons held hostage.  This would open the way for peace,” the cardinal said.
 
Likewise, Bishop Jaime Prieto Amaya of Cucuta said mediations “are very important but today a face-to-face meeting is required with the FARC, with the ELN, with all the groups of this armed conflict which we wish to resolve. I would say we are past the time for proposals, we want solutions to this armed conflict.”
 
“We don’t need anymore initial dialogue to see if we can enter into some kind of plan for an agreement, but each side simply needs to lay out its point of view and then enter into concrete or specific agreements,” the bishop said.  “This is fundamental right now because the armed conflict has reached such a degree that this enormous bloodbath that is killing Colombians cannot continue.”