By Anita Snow
Associated Press Writer
Sunday, January 17, 1999; 10:11 p.m. EST

HAVANA (AP) -- Fidel Castro met Sunday with Colombian President Andres Pastrana and Venezuelan President-elect Hugo Chavez to explore ways they can work together toward ending Colombia's guerrilla war.

The three leaders made no statements as they posed for photographers before talks began late Sunday morning in the Palace of the Revolution.

Characterized as informal, the discussions were aimed at defining the roles Castro and Chavez could play in helping persuade leftist guerrillas to come to an understanding with the Colombian government.

After talks wound up in the evening, both Chavez and Pastrana returned to their countries.

The guerrillas have said they admire Castro and Chavez, and many believe they could play effective roles as mediators.

Chavez, a former army paratrooper who once led an unsuccessful coup against his government, traveled to Cuba after his release from prison in 1994 and gave a speech attended by Castro in which he praised the Cuban revolution.

Pastrana arrived in Havana for an official visit on Thursday. Chavez, who takes office on Feb. 2, arrived here Saturday night as he returned from a European tour.

Pastrana opened negotiations on Jan. 7 with Colombia's largest guerrilla group, the 15,000-member Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.

Preliminary peace discussions are planned for Feb. 13 between the government, civilian leaders and the 5,000-member National Liberation Army.