Brussels, 03/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - The High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, condemned the assassination of the journalist and former Colombian Minister of Culture, Consuelo Araujo Noguera. He reiterates his support for the peace efforts by President Pastrana, calling for a truce on the part of the guerrillas.
"On behalf of the EU" and in his own name, in a press release, Javier Solana expresses his condolences to Colombian Prosecutor General Edgardo Maya, husband of Mrs. Araujo Noguera, and to the Colombian President, Andres Pastrana, as well as to "the whole Colombian nation".
"The European Union has always believed in the peace efforts of President Pastrana and supports him both politically and economically, as the peace process is the only path to resolving the conflict in a fair and durable manner. Crimes like this (which are also serious attacks against the peace process) fill us with pain and consternation", the High Representative writes.
Solana calls on the guerrilla to "put an end once and for all to violent actions against defenceless people, thereby demonstrating their commitment to reaching peace". At the same time, he continues, "I insist that FARC immediately release the two German relief workers held hostage, in defiance of the European Union and the international community". The High Representative "still hopes that FARC will consider and allow in the coming days unequivocal acts of peace which may strengthen the peace process and pave the way to a truce".
Highly regarded in Colombia, Mrs. Araujo Noguera, was killed on Sunday having been held hostage by the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC). In a press release, FARC "regrets that the political detention of Araujo Noguera should have led to her unexpected death", claiming that she was "killed by the army", during a rescue operation, says the press agency EFE in Bogota.