Could Hugo Chavez be the peacemaker in Colombia?

While Venezuela’s congress "initially approved" several constitutional reforms, the country’s president was in Colombia meeting with the families of hostages held by guerillas. Hugo Chavez expressed sympathy with the relatives, but more importantly he offered himself as "an observer and a guarantor" of a possible hostage exchange between the Colombian government and the rebel FARC group.

One family member expressed cautious optimism that Chavez’ intervention can help:

“‘We have always asked for a meeting zone to be established, but the important thing is for the FARC and the government to sit down face to face,’ Angela de Perez, the wife of a kidnapped lawmaker, told Colombia's Caracol television.”

In the meantime, the Colombian media have cited an article from Venezuelan newspaper El Universal claiming that the FARC’s spokesman had already contacted Chavez though the reason behind it was not revealed.

A meeting between Chavez and families of imprisoned guerillas is being set up to take place in Caracas.

Sources (English)- BBC News, International Herald Tribune, Voice of America, Reuters

Sources (Spanish)- RCN, El Tiempo

Image- RCN (From left to right, Clara Rojas and Gustavo Moncayo met with Hugo Chavez)