A/S TAYLOR MEETING WITH MOD URIBE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 012424

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2014
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PTER CO
SUBJECT: A/S TAYLOR MEETING WITH MOD URIBE

Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) December 1, 2004, 3:00-4:00 p.m., Ministry of Defense,
Bogota


2. (U) Participants:

U.S.
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A/S Francis X. Taylor
Col. Simeon Trombitas, Milgroup Commander
Col. William Graves, Defense Attache
Mark Hunter, RSO
Pamela Fierst, Special Assistant
Dana Brown, notetaker

Colombia
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Jorge Alberto Uribe Echavarria, Minister of Defense
Jorge Eastman, Vice Minister



3. (C) Summary: A/S Taylor congratulated Minister of Defense
(MOD) Jorge Uribe on the significant improvements since his
last visit in 2002 as A/S for Counterterrorism Affairs.
Noting the reductions in the numbers of kidnappings,
homicides, and oil pipeline attacks, Uribe vowed to "stay the
course." He added that Colombia had begun to offer other
nations consultation assistance on combating terrorist
attacks on oil pipelines, securing ports, and conducting
counternarcotics operations. End Summary.

Bilateral Assistance Reinforces Security Efforts
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4. (C) Taylor praised Uribe on the success of the GOC's
security programs, especially its anti-kidnapping efforts.
His trip to the program training site only confirmed to him
that Colombia had a well-established means of combating
kidnappers. He applauded the fact that crime had been on a
downward trend over the last two years. Uribe responded by
stressing that bilateral assistance had been key to providing
the resources necessary to establish Colombia's security
programs. He was satisfied that his Administration was on
the correct path and promised to continue.


5. (C) Taylor noted that his visit to Cartagena had given him
the opportunity to see the civilian/police cooperation that
helps protect the city. He added that President Bush had
asked for a re-evaluation of the city's risk levels after his
November 22 visit. In response to Vice Minister Eastman's
question about the future of the anti-kidnapping program,
Taylor confirmed the USG's intention to continue supporting
it.

CO Shares Expertise with Neighbors
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6. (C) Uribe stressed that Colombia's expertise in addressing
major security challenges recently had led to Colombia
advising other countries. For example, GOC officials had
advised Haitians and Brazilians on ways to improve port
security, and he mentioned plans to work with Afghanis on
planning counternarcotics missions in 2005. Taylor commented
that Colombia's experience in protecting oil pipelines from
terrorist attacks would likely be useful in Iraq and Central
Asia.
WOOD