Brussels, 28/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Greens have decided to send Alain Lipietz to Colombia, following the kidnapping of the Green candidate for the presidential elections, Ingrid Betancourt, by FARC guerrillas. In a press release, the Greens explain that Mr Lipietz will contact the Colombian authorities, the United Nations representatives in Colombia, the Green party there (Oxigeno Verde) and other movements that want a return to the rule of law; He will also appeal to the Pastrana government to not endanger Ms Betancourt's life by upping the military ante. The RPR MEP Hugues Martin has issued a press release noting that Ingrid Betancourt had called on the EP to send a team of observers to Colombia for the elections and recent events had shown she was justified. He added that for him, it was clear that the Colombian presidential elections cannot take place when a candidate who fights against corruption and drugs trafficking has been kidnapped. The EP President, Pat Cox, deplored the kidnapping when he spoke at the opening of the plenary.