(S/NF) VENEZUELA RESUMING FARC HOSTAGE

S E C R E T STATE 125738 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2034 TAGS: PINR PINS PREL CO VE SUBJECT: (S/NF) VENEZUELA RESUMING FARC HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS. (C-AL9-02396) Classified By: ELISSA G. PITTERLE, DIRECTOR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C). ¶1. (S/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS ARE INTERESTED IN THE ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE FARC AND COLOMBIA REGARDING THE RELEASE OF HOSTAGES. WE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN ANY ROLE VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ IS PLAYING IN THE NEGOTIATIONS. AS TIME AND RESOURCES ALLOW, WE WOULD WELCOME POSTS, INSIGHTS INTO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. MANY THANKS FROM WASHINGTON. ¶A. (U) CHAVEZ: 1) (S/NF) WHO IS CHAVEZ TALKING TO REGARDING HOSTAGES (I.E. THE FARC, OTHER GOVERNMENTS*SUCH AS THE SPANISH, THE FRENCH, THE SWISS*INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, THE RED CROSS?) 2) (S/NF) IS CHAVEZ INTERESTED IN HOLDING SEPARATE PARALLEL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOSTAGE RELEASES, AND IF SO, HOW DOES HE PLAN ON ACCOMPLISHING THAT? 3) (S/NF) WHAT ARE THOSE INTERLOCUTORS, IMPRESSIONS OF CHAVEZ'S INTENTIONS? WHAT ACTION(S) WOULD CHAVEZ WANT HIS INTERLOCUTORS TO TAKE? 4) (S/NF) WHAT ARE CHAVEZ'S EXPECTATIONS OF SUCCESS IN THESE NEGOTIATIONS? ¶2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-AL9-02396 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. CLINTON