Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez arrived at Santo Domingo Airport in the western Venezuela state of Tachira at noon on Friday and examined the aircraft that will be used in the operation to pick up three hostages due to be released by Colombia's largest rebel army.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro and former Argentine president Nestor Kirchner had arrived at the airport earlier on Friday.
Speaking to press as they set off, Kirchner said, "Our work is to guarantee the release is successful and to create a new era in Latin America."
The two flew from the Simon Bolivar airport in Venezuela's capital Caracas to the state of Tachira, on the Colombia border. Kirchner is Argentina's representative at the release promised by rebels the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
The prisoners are being handed over to Venezuela because Chavez had acted as mediator between the Colombian government and rebels from August to Nov. 21, when Chavez was fired by Colombia for allegedly breaching protocol.
In a Dec. 9 statement, the FARC promised to free former legislator Consuelo Gonzalez, 57; former vice-presidential candidate Clara Rojas, 44; and Emmanuel, Rojas's son born in captivity.
The Venezuelan helicopters will bear the Red Cross insignia and will pick up the hostages at some point in the Colombian jungle.
Chavez has said that the three hostages will spend New Year with their families if the operation is successful.
Source: Xinhua
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