France celebrates Betancourt’s freedom

The French connection is central to Ingrid Betancourt’s story. And it was in Paris where her two children and sister joined President Nicolas Sarkozy in an emotional news conference on Wednesday night.
 
Betancourt’s liberation was a foreign policy priority for the French leader. He had made several unsuccessful attempts to convince the FARC to set her free.
 
Sarkozy’s efforts were recognized by Melanie and Lorenzo, the children Betancourt had with her former husband, a Frenchman. Lorenzo summed up his feelings at learning of his mother’s release, describing it as “the best moment of my life.”
 
There were celebrations, too, at Betancourt’s French support committee. After all the demonstrations and vigils throughout her long years of detention, activists could finally party.

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