Negotiating over Betancourt

Ingrid Betancourt, the Colombian-French citizen and former Colombian presidential candidate held hostage by the Colombian rebel group FARC for more than five years, will dominate a meeting between Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday.

The irrepressible Chavez, who wants play a major international role at a moment when his country is facing tensions due to constitutional reform, meets with Sarkozy as part of a "rapid but productive" tour, including the OPEC heads of state summit in Saudi Arabia at the weekend, Iran and Portugal.

On November 8, it was reported that Chavez had held the first of what may be a series of meetings with representatives of the FARC, after offering to mediate in order to gain the release of hostages.  The FARC delegation involved in the talks may also meet a representative of Sarkozy.  Chavez has said that, before arriving in Paris next week, he hopes to have evidence that Betancourt is alive -- something that has been promised by FARC 'foreign minister' Rodrigo Granda. 

Although Bogota appears to view Chavez's humanitarian intervention with some scepticism, French government involvement may help to ensure that talks continue.  Five years ago, Paris undertook a highly controversial unilateral attempt to secure Betancourt’s release, and Sarkozy has promised to take up her case.

While Chavez and Sarkozy have little common ground politically, French support for Chavez's intervention will keep relations cordial.  This could represent a welcome break with recent foreign policy faux pas by Chavez, such as his recent attack on former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar that led to a sharp exchange with Spanish King Juan Carlos. 

If anything, the increasing radicalisation of Chavez's foreign policy discourse appears to have served largely to chill relations with hitherto well-disposed governments, rather than broadening his appeal as a bastion of opposition to imperialism.  His probably well-intentioned attempt to mediate with the FARC may prove ill-advised if the hopes it raises are dashed, or if he is outflanked by the FARC for their own political motives.