URIBE OPENS CARTAGENA COORDINATION AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 BOGOTA 001306

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAID PTER KJUS CO
SUBJECT: URIBE OPENS CARTAGENA COORDINATION AND
COOPERATION CONFERENCE


1. Summary: On February 3 in Cartagena, President Uribe
addressed representatives of 28 nations and multilateral
organizations (still termed the G-24) at the day-long
International Coordination and Cooperation Conference for
Colombia. Uribe stated that Colombia is not in conflict,
but rather a robust democracy destabilized by terrorists
committing violent acts. He called upon the Congress to
pass a truth, justice, and reparations bill to govern the
demobilization and reinsertion of members of illegal armed
groups (IAGs). Regarding the FARC, Uribe stressed there
would be no demilitarized zone and that guerrillas
released from prison would not be allowed to return to
lives of crime. He blamed an intransigent ELN Central
Command (COCE) for lack of progress in talks facilitated
by Mexico (suggesting that earlier reports of an imminent
meeting in Mexico were premature). During the rest of the
morning session, GOC officials including Interior and
Justice Minister Pretelt, Peace Commissioner Restrepo,
Cooperation Coordinator Hoyos, National Planning Director
Montenegro, and Interior Ministry Reinsertion Program
Coordinator Angel provided overviews of key issues.


2. Summary (continued): VP Santos and FM Barco presided
over the afternoon session during which G-24 members and
various multilateral organizations offered critiqued the
state of play in Colombia since the 2003 London
Declaration. U.S. Delegation head USAID Administrator
Natsios reiterated strong support for Colombia's fight
against terrorism and narcotics trafficking. He lauded
Colombia for effectively managing development assistance
and urged other nations to up their contributions.
Chilean Foreign Minister Ignacio Walker noted his
country's "absolute, unconditional support" for Colombia's
peace process. Most of the remaining interventions,
including those by the EU President (Luxembourg),other EU
members, and Canada, cited progress but called on the GOC
to implement the 27 recommendations of the UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) and to adopt a
truth, justice, and reparations bill to deal with the
paramilitary peace process. Many suggested that financial
support for demobilization would follow these steps. End
Summary.


3. On February 3, President Uribe opened the
International Coordination and Cooperation Conference for
Colombia with an impassioned, 65-minute speech to
delegates from 28 nations and multilateral organizations
(text of speech emailed to WHA/AND). Just prior to the
speech, Uribe held a breakfast meeting with AID
Administrator Andrew Natsios, the U.S. Delegation Head,
State WHA DAS Charles Shapiro, and the Ambassador
(septel).

ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT URIBE
--------------


4. Uribe challenged the use of the term "conflict" to
describe Colombia's internal situation. Instead,
Colombia's society, economy, and democratic institutions
were under attack from terrorists. He followed with a
vigorous defense of Colombia's democracy, including the
presence of elected mayors in virtually all
municipalities. He cited electoral successes of
candidates from a wide spectrum of political parties as
well as complete freedom of expression, and stressed that
his "Democratic Security Policy" protects all Colombians,
regardless of political philosophy or ideology.


5. Turning to the peace processes with guerrilla groups,
Uribe said that cease-fires were urgent but that disarming
and demobilization required patience. Regarding the FARC,
Uribe noted three GOC conditions:

--The GOC would not consider a demilitarized zone;
--Released guerrillas would not be allowed to return to
lives of crime; and
--The GOC must act in accordance with current laws; in
particular, individuals who have committed crimes against
humanity cannot be released or pardoned.


6. On the ELN front, Uribe welcomed Mexico's facilitator
role and blamed intransigence and vanity on the part of
the ELN Central Command (COCE) for the failure to attain
real progress. Uribe criticized COCE members for being
"arrogant, messianic, and fundamentalist."


7. Regarding the paramilitary peace process, Uribe noted
the successful demobilization of some 6000 AUC members and
announced that Congress had been called into special
session for the week of February 14 to begin debate on a
truth, justice, and reparations bill. He called for a
legal framework for demobilization that is "credible,
equitable, and universal," and strikes an effective
balance between justice and peace. He stressed that
individuals who committed crimes against humanity would be
imprisoned.


8. On socioeconomic issues, Uribe blamed narcoterrorists
for Colombia's "social tragedy" and its lack of private
enterprises. He noted that during his Administration tax
revenue as a percentage of GDP had risen two percentage
points to 19 percent, a level comparable to many developed
countries. Uribe closed with a brief overview of GOC
activities and spending on education and health care.

OTHER GOC PRESENTATIONS
--------------

9. Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo provided an
overview of the ongoing peace process with the
paramilitaries (AUC) and negotiations with the ELN. He
offered specifics on the numbers of demobilized AUC
members and stressed the importance of the reduction of
the number of actively armed individuals. Interior and
Justice Minister Sabas Pretelt addressed issues related to
the legal framework for the paramilitary demobilization
process. Septel will report details of both the GOC and
the Pardo Congressional group truth, justice, and
reparations bills to be considered in the special session
of Congress to convene on February 15.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL DIALOGUE: USAID ADMINISTRATOR'S REMARKS
-------------- --------------


10. In response to Uribe, USAID Administrator Andrew
Natsios framed his remarks in terms of the donor consensus
derived at the 2002 Financing for Development Conference
in Monterrey (see Natsios' text for the record emailed to
WHA/AND). He noted the dual elements of the Monterrey
Consensus--a commitment by developed countries to increase
ODA and a commitment by developing countries to reforms to
enhance the impact of development assistance. With
respect to the latter, Natsios underscored Colombia's
impressive record of achieving results: doubling economic
growth rates, reducing human rights abuses, and reducing
corruption (noting that according to Transparency
International, Colombia was the country which had improved
the most over the past two years). He urged other
countries to increase their support because Colombia
represented a good return on their investment due to
robust democracy and the existence of a locally written
national development plan that was being implemented and
had wide popular support. Natsios also welcomed internal
debate on the peace process, stressing that historically
such processes are only lasting if local actors play a key
role in their development and implementation. (The text
of the Natsios' prepared remarks can be found on the
Embassy website, usembassy.state.gov/colombia.)

INTERVENTIONS BY OTHER DELEGATIONS
--------------


11. Chilean FM Ignacio Walker, in turn, offered
"absolute, unconditional support" for Colombia. He
stressed the importance of respect for human rights in the
democratic process and thanked the assembled nations for
their support for Chile's democratic transition in the
1990s.


12. European Delegations and Canada focused their remarks
on the need for the GOC to implement the UNHCHR
recommendations and adopt a legal framework for the peace
process, and that financial support for the peace process,
including the ongoing demobilizations of the
paramilitaries, would follow. Luxembourg, speaking on
behalf of the EU as rotating president, stressed that GOC
implementation of the London Declaration was a cornerstone
of EU-Colombia relations and noted four areas of EU
support for Colombia: strengthening democracy and
institutions; improvement in human rights practices;
counter-narcotics; and respect for the environment and
biodiversity. Luxembourg also called on the IAGs to
commit to genuine cease-fires.

THE CARTAGENA DECLARATION
--------------


13. At the end of the afternoon session, members of the G-
24 adopted the Cartagena Declaration, which had been
negotiated among G-24 members and with the GOC over the
last few weeks, as a follow-up to the London Declaration
of July 10, 2003. The text highlights progress in
Colombia since London and reflects Uribe's successful
efforts to update the characterization of the internal
situation in the country. Although there is an explicit
call for the GOC to adopt a credible legal framework for
ongoing demobilizations and that international support
would follow only after such a step was completed, press
reports declared the text a strong endorsement of the
Uribe Administration's efforts to bring peace to the
country.


14. BEGIN INFORMAL TRANSLATION (Spanish text emailed to
WHA/AND):

On February 3 and 4, 2005, the second meeting of the Group
for Coordination and International Cooperation for
Colombia took place in Cartagena de Indias, with the aim
of continuing the political and co-operation dialogue
begun in London on July 10, 2003.

The meeting was opened by the President of the Republic of
Colombia, Alvaro Uribe Velez, and was attended by high-
level representatives of the governments of Argentina,
Brazil, Canada, Chile, the U.S., Japan, Mexico, Norway,
Switzerland, the EU and its member states, the European
Commission, the UN system, the CAF, the IDB, the IMF, the
World Bank and the Colombian government.

Colombia was represented by the President and Vice
President of the Republic, the Minister for Foreign
Affairs, the Peace Commissioner, the Director of the
National Planning Department and the Presidential Adviser
for Social Action, who presented progress achieved by
government policies as well as in the different peace
processes, in human rights and in the national strategy
for international cooperation.

The government representatives present, members of the G-
24, reaffirming the London declaration, underlined the
importance of the process begun there. Furthermore, they
recognized the efforts made, the mechanisms established,
such as the follow-up committee, and the results achieved
by the Colombian government in relation to the
aforementioned declaration. The participants welcomed
favorably the points of view put forward by civil society
as an important contribution to the construction of a
dialogue leading toward peace.

The governmental representatives present reaffirmed their
support for the Colombian government in its efforts to
improve the well being and security of all citizens, and
in the fight against terrorism and illegal drugs. They
recognized the progress being made within a democratic
context, improving governability, promoting the presence
of the institutions of state and the organs of control to
assure respect for the law and human rights, and, where
applicable, International Humanitarian Law, throughout the
country.

They supported the efforts and recognized the progress
made in the search for a peaceful negotiated solution to
the situation of internal violence generated by the
conflict with the illegal armed groups, highlighting the
work undertaken by the office of the UN Secretary General,
the OAS, the Catholic Church, the Mexican government and
those of other counties.

They demanded that the illegal armed groups commit
themselves to a cessation of hostilities and a meaningful
peace process, respect International Humanitarian Law and
all the rights of all Colombians, stop attacking the
civilian population, recruiting minors, and extorting,
stop the production and export of illegal drugs and free
immediately all hostages. In this context, they
underlined the benefits that could be gained from a
humanitarian agreement taking into account the rule of law
and International Humanitarian Law.

They stressed the importance and relevance of the
processes of disarmament, demobilization and reinsertion
that have been taking place. They underlined the need to
complete the existing legal framework with legislation
that would allow the realization of the principles of
truth, justice, and reparation; furthermore, this would
allow additional support to be given to these processes.

They highlighted the progress made and the willingness of
the government and state institutions to work towards the
implementation of the recommendations of the UNHCHR, and
encouraged them to continue their efforts in order to
obtain results as quickly as possible. In this sense,
they underlined the importance of the government's
initiative in developing a National Human Rights Action
Plan, and its intention to draw it up in collaboration
with a wide cross-section of Colombian society in order
that it should contribute to the construction of an
environment favoring harmonious co-existence, justice, and
the construction of the fabric of society. They took note
of recent changes to the legal system, aimed at the
strengthening of justice and of the fight against
impunity.

Recognizing the advances made, they urged the government
to continue to strengthen its presence throughout the
country, stressing the need to reinforce existing measures
to guarantee the right to life and freedom of expression
of trade unionists, journalists, human rights defenders,
and civil society leaders in their important and
legitimate work, urging it to maintain its firm commitment
in this area. They made a strong call to the illegal
armed groups to respect these rights.

They repeated their demand that the illegal armed groups
should comply with the UNHCHR recommendations addressed to
them.

They congratulated the Colombian government for the recent
destruction of mines stored by the armed forces, in
fulfilment of the Convention on the Prohibition, Use,
Storage, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines
and their Destruction. They recognized this step as
another illustration of Colombia's commitment to the
consolidation of International Humanitarian Law. They
demanded that the illegal armed groups stop immediately
the production and use of anti-personnel mines.

They recognized the government's efforts to improve the
serious conditions faced by vulnerable sectors of the
population, especially the displaced, indigenous and Afro-
Colombian communities, and urged it to continue these
efforts. They expressed the need to strengthen attention
to this still worrying humanitarian situation. In this
sense, they expressed support for efforts to find lasting
solutions, such as the National Plan of Integrated
Attention to the Displaced Population and the Humanitarian
Action Plan, discussion of which remains to be concluded.

They highlighted the importance of the process of
discussion for the development of the International
Cooperation Strategy in which national public bodies, the
international community and civil society all played an
active part. At the same time, they welcomed the
government's willingness to open up spaces for democratic
participation and urged it to continue working in this
way.

They committed themselves to continue supporting, in a
determined and concrete way, the International Cooperation
Strategy, in line with the priorities established in the
six thematic blocks: forests; re-incorporation into
civilian life; productive and alternative development;
strengthening the rule of law and human rights; regional
peace and development programmes, forced displacement and
humanitarian assistance. In this context they recognized
the commitment of the governments to the Millennium Goals.

They highlighted the support given by the international
community and the importance of dialogue and cooperation
between the government of Colombia and civil society in
all its diversity, including the private sector. They
reaffirmed their commitment with the government to
continue working in a co-coordinated way, with the
participation of civil society and the relevant
international bodies, within the framework of the London
process.

END TRANSLATED TEXT. WOOD