Gov. Bill Richardson will travel to Caracas, Venezuela on Friday to meet with President Hugo Chavez. The trip is part of the governor’s attempt to secure the release of three Americans who have been held hostage in Columbia since 2003.
“The hostage-negotiation process will take time and will require a sustained dialogue with key parties,” Richardson said in a news release announcing the trip. “It is critically important that we do not lose sight of the plight of the hostages and their families. I believe President Chavez can play a positive role in the ultimate release of the hostages.”
The Americans are being held hostage by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Their families asked Richardson earlier this year to assist in securing their release. Chavez is a key player in Latin America who has influence well beyond his borders. Earlier this year, the group released six Colombian hostages to Chavez.
Richardson is coordinating his trip with the State Department but is not an official envoy. He will also meet with U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela Patrick Duddy and other Venezuelan officials while he is there.
In March, Richardson traveled to Bogota, Colombia, and met with President Álvaro Uribe, U.S. Ambassador William R. Brownfield and other officials about the hostages. Richardson has previously negotiated the release of hostages and political prisoners in Sudan, Iraq, North Korea and Cuba.
Gov. Bill Richardson will travel to