Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos authorized former Senator Piedad Cordoba to take part in the release of five hostages the FARC has promised to free.
In a press release published on the president’s website, the government said that “it is willing to guarantee all security conditions necessary for the mentioned release as soon as possible.”
The government will appoint a representative who will mediate on behalf of the government in the process that is to lead up to the release of the hostages.
Cordoba told Caracol Radio that the actual release of the hostages could take more than a month and that it is unlikely that the three members of the security forces and the two politicians will be free this year.
The FARC announced it planned to release the five “prisoners of war” on the condition that Cordoba was put in charge of the release operation.
Colombia’s inspector general dismissed the senator earlier this year for her alleged ties to the guerrilla organization.
