Madrid, 17/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - On 23 May, the European Union is expected to take the decision of including the Colombian revolutionary forces (FARC) on the European list of terrorist organisations, it was announced by José Maria Aznar, at the Madrid Summit. The decision is to be examined by the Permanent Representatives. "We have no doubt that this decision will be taken as soon as possible", said Josep Piqué. During the last discussions on this subject (see EUROPE of 16 May, p.7), Sweden was willing to rally to the inclusion of FARC on the list, but with the assurance that it could be withdrawn if negotiations between the government and the organisation resumed in order to leave the door open for rekindling the peace process. Spain, the United Kingdom and Italy were, it seems, more in favour of including FARC on the list. On the eve of the Summit, José Maria Aznar had told the press: "FARC is carrying out an unacceptable exercise of terrorism". Colombian President Andres Pastrana stressed that "one cannot be neutral when it is a question of terrorism". It is up to FARC to decide whether they are terrorists or not and want to come off the list, he said, welcoming the support of the EU to its peace effort, but inviting it to step up its aid to fight against drugs, which help to finance terrorism.
In the political declaration of the Madrid Summit, the participants reject "the repeated violation of human rights and of international humanitarian law by illegal groups in Colombia" condemning "terrorist attacks and kidnapping, including those in recent days" and supporting "the search for a negotiated solution to the conflict in Colombia". Implicitly targeted in this paragraph, the revolutionary armed forces of Colombia (FARC) are not explicitly mentioned.