Brazil says FARC issue Colombia's internal affair

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Monday that Colombia should deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) by itself.

"If Brazil, Argentina or any other country is willing to help, we will only move if Colombia asks for something," Lula told a press conference after meeting with Salvadorian President Mauricio Funes in Sao Paulo.

"If they do not ask, it is an internal problem of Colombia that must be resolved by themselves," he said at the Federation of Industries of Sao Paulo.

The Brazilian president said he was optimistic about the possibility of building peace between Colombia and Venezuela, adding that the first step is to restore diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Last month, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez severed relations with Colombia after Bogota accused Caracas of harboring FARC guerrillas in its terriroty and asked the Organization of American States to investigate it.

Source: Xinhua