WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- House Republican Whip Roy Blunt
(Mo.) issued the following statement today after Venezuelan president Hugo
Chavez called on the government of the United States, as well as other world
nations, to remove the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) from its
list of recognized terrorist organizations.
"Although we're all pleased that the FARC recently released two hostages, we
shouldn't lose sight of the fact that the group remains a ruthless
narco-terrorist organization. In recent years it has been responsible for
countless deaths and the kidnappings of innocent Colombians, Americans, and
other foreign nationals. The suggestion that this organization should be
removed from our list of foreign terrorist organizations - or anyone else's -
is absurd on its face.
"This episode, though, highlights the unique challenges our friends in the
region face - especially President Uribe of Colombia, who continues to stake
his life and livelihood on the future health and prosperity of his country.
His efforts to establish rule of law and broader government control over
previously dangerous parts of his country should be commended, and every
foreign leader committed to security in the region should be working together
with him to further those efforts.
"In that continued fight, it's my view the United States should be a committed
ally - not a detached, disinterested observer from afar. And the best way we
can do that is by sending a message to the region that America stands with its
friends, trades with them when we can, and wants to be a partner in peace and
security. One example of that friendship would be Congress's passage of the
Colombian free trade agreement, and that's a case I intend to make early and
often as this next session takes shape."
SOURCE House Republican Whip Roy Blunt
Antonia Ferrier or Nick Simpson of the Office of House Republican Whip Roy
Blunt, +1-202-226-7022
