DIALOGUE ON A FRAMEWORK FOR A STRATEGIC DEFENSE

S E C R E T BOGOTA 011084

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2015
TAGS: MARR MCAP PARM PREL CO US GOV
SUBJECT: DIALOGUE ON A FRAMEWORK FOR A STRATEGIC DEFENSE
RELATIONSHIP WITH COLOMBIA

REF: SECSTATE 207620

Classified By: Charge Milton K. Drucker, Reasons: 1.4 (b) & (d)


1. (S) Per reftel, Polcouns and DATT initiated dialogue on a
framework for a strategic defense relationship with VMOD
Andres Penate and COLMIL's General Padilla on November 22,
and with MFA Vice Minister Reyes on November 23. The three
officials constitute the internal GOC working group on the
matter. Embassy officers also shared the draft text provided
in reftel.


2. (S) Penate said he was "extremely pleased" to receive the
draft and to be at this stage in the discussions, and noted
that the ball was now in the GOC's court for a formal
response. After a quick read of the text, he expressed
satisfaction with the "considerable conceptual overlap"
between U.S. and GOC views. General Padilla asked whether
joint training of special forces and collaboration on
anti-mine efforts needed to be spelled out specifically in
the text, as some other issues were, or whether they would be
covered under more general language paragraphs. Penate
underscored that the GOC wanted to pursue these discussions
in a quiet and informal manner and hoped to wait until after
the presidential elections before taking the initiative
public.


3. (S) News of Penate's nomination by President Uribe to head
the DAS (Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad),roughly
equivalent to the FBI, hit the press earlier on November 22.
Penate said he was not sure whether Hernan Sanin, reported to
replace him at the MOD (and brother of former Presidential
candidate and current Ambassador to Spain and Uribe confidant
Noemi Sanin),would be assigned this issue or whether it
would pass to someone else at the MOD. He said the Embassy
would be informed as soon as a decision was made.
DRUCKER