MR. CASEY: Sure.

QUESTION: Mr. Chavez in Venezuela is saying that the U.S. should stop hunting for a FARC leader named Ivan Marquez, and the implication seems to be that this might help in getting her release or starting something moving on that. I don't know if you've seen his remarks, but would the U.S. be willing to stop this alleged search for him if it would help her release?

MR. CASEY: I'm not -- to be honest with you, I'm not sure who Mr. Marquez is or what his status is. I'm not sure if he is one of the FARC leaders that might be wanted in connection with criminal charges here in the U.S. You can check with the Department of Justice on that.

But let's get to the main point here, the FARC is a designated terrorist organization. The FARC is a group that has caused great misery for the Colombian people over time. And they have been responsible, as well, for kidnapping a number of people: Columbians, foreign citizens, including three Americans who we very much are interested in seeing released. Let's be clear about who's responsible for that. The FARC bears full responsibility for the completely unjustified taking of these people of hostage in the first place, for their welfare and well-being while they are in captivity with them. And we again, would repeat our call that the FARC release all hostages unconditionally.

As you know, throughout this period, we have supported the efforts of President Uribe to deal with the FARC, as well as his efforts to secure the release of hostages. We have also continued to support efforts by third parties to obtain their release, as long as those efforts were done in conjunction and with the support of the Colombian Government. That remains our position.

With respect to the French initiative here, again, I understand that this is something that is being worked between the French Government and the Government of Colombia, in that sense, is in keeping with those basic policy standards that we have outlined.

But I don't think that anyone should be under any illusions that the FARC is going to fundamentally change its stripes or that the FARC should somehow, as some individuals in Venezuela have suggested, be considered something other than the kind of terrorist group that it was. And I think you saw, when some of those comments were made, that there was a rather amazing, spontaneous, international reaction -- demonstrations not only in Colombia but in other parts of Latin America and Europe and the United States as well, making it clear that the FARC is certainly no friend to the Colombian people and no friend to anyone else as well.

QUESTION: What about Mr. Chavez's suggestion that U.S. action could somehow lead to some sort of movement on the release of --

MR. CASEY: I'm not sure what he's referring to. You'd have to ask him.