MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

EU urges negotiations to end Colombian conflict.

The European Commission believes Colombia will not solve its decades-old internal conflict with a strictly military approach and suggested negotiations should be explored.

Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the EU's commissioner for foreign affairs, told the European Parliament that "there will not be a purely military solution. Other peaceful avenues with the armed groups willing to negotiate need to be explored".

The European Parliament was debating the status of relations with Colombia, the top Latin American recipient of European Union aid, as well as the human rights situation and security in the South American nation.

In 2001 the EU pledged 140 million euros over five years in humanitarian aid aimed at bolstering Colombia's judicial institutions and supporting the ongoing peace process, with a special emphasis on initiatives at the local level.

"Colombia is very important for the EU, not only in trade, investments and production, but also on account of the problems from the drug trade, criminal networks, terrorism, migration and the regional dimensions of its conflict" underlined the former Austrian foreign minister.

The EU policy towards Colombia is "supporting Colombians so they can achieve a lasting peace" said Ms. Ferrero-Waldner urging Colombian President Alvaro Uribe to respect the country's commitments to defend human rights.

She also called for the release of all victims of kidnapping, a common practice among the guerrilla movements which together with drug money is a main source of funding. The guerrillas are believed to be holding over a thousand hostages, some for ransom and others they hope to exchange for imprisoned insurgents.