Press Release
Daily Press Briefing Index
Friday, November 30, 2007
12:09 p.m. EST
Briefer: Sean McCormack, Spokesman
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING
DPB # 209
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2007
QUESTION: Colombia?
MR. MCCORMACK: Colombia, yes.
QUESTION: What's your opinion about the proof of life? What is --
MR. MCCORMACK: I understand that the Colombian Government has obtained some materials. We have seen some excerpts, some parts of those materials. I think, inasmuch as it involves our citizens, we're going to get a full look at those, do an analysis of them. But the initial indications are that it does provide some proof of life for several of the hostages, including American hostages, and we're going to be in close contact with the families of the American hostages.
QUESTION: Colombia?
MR. MCCORMACK: Yeah.
QUESTION: (Inaudible) proof of life came because of the mediation, facilitation of President Chavez, will United States agree if the dialogue that will start between President Uribe and President Chavez in order to get the hostage back?
MR. MCCORMACK: I think President Uribe has made some decisions in that regard and we're fully supportive of President Uribe in terms of his actions and commitment to getting back all of the hostages as soon as possible and unharmed. One thing that's been very heartening for the United States Government has been that he has made it clear that there's no distinction among the nationalities of the hostages as far as he's concerned. He's not going to prioritize Colombian hostages over American or French or any other, so that's very heartening for us.
Yeah, Sylvie.
QUESTION: Sean, what exactly do you do to -- in this -- on this matter? Did you -- after the proof of life were published, did you call anybody? Is there --
MR. MCCORMACK: We've been in contact with the Colombian Government as the first matter and then also we have been in contact with the families of those American citizens being held hostage.
QUESTION: And that's all? You don't do anything special now? What is your next step now that you have this proof?
MR. MCCORMACK: Continue working with the Colombian Government.
QUESTION: So you have no position on whether Chavez belongs back in those negotiations or not?
MR. MCCORMACK: Those are decisions that President Uribe has taken and I think he has explained with good reason the reasoning behind his decision.
QUESTION: Sean, do these --
QUESTION: But in Colombia, on Monday, there is going to be the sentence for Simon Trinidad, the FARC guerrilla who has been extradited here in the United States. Now that the proof of why that he asked to the FARC to put them out are out, do you think or will the United States be agreed for a shorter sentence for this (inaudible) even as they offer as United States --
MR. MCCORMACK: I think this is something that is in the hands of the judicial branch.