EU: The European Union's External Relations Commissioner, Mr Chris Patten, has said he expects an early verdict on three Irishmen accused of helping the Colombian guerrilla group, FARC.
Speaking in Brussels after a visit to Colombia, Brazil and Equador, Mr Patten said he was confident that the three men would be treated fairly by the Colombian justice system. "I heard that the judicial process is moving forward and presumably will soon deliver a verdict or sentence in their case and that may happen sooner rather than later but it's a question for the Colombian courts," he said.
Mr Patten said that discussions within the Commission about appointing a former politician as the next EU ambassador in Washington had yet to reach an advanced stage.
"There is an argument that Washington is a special case and requires because of its importance, because of the important relationship with Congress, a skilled and senior political figure but we haven't gone beyond that," he said.
Commission officials say that Mr Patten hopes to persuade his fellow Commissioners to appoint a former politician, possibly the former Taoiseach, Mr John Bruton, before the current Commission leaves office in the autumn. Mr Patten said that he did not know if Mr Bruton, who has declined to comment on speculation surrounding his name, was interested in the post.
"There is, not least given his experience as Taoiseach and his role in the Convention a great deal of respect for Mr Bruton but I don't know what plans he has."