DEMARCHE DELIVERED: OAS WORKING GROUP ON RACISM

UNCLAS BOGOTA 004303 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM AORC CO USOAS SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: OAS WORKING GROUP ON RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION REF: SECSTATE 82983 (SBU) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to MFA Vice Minister for Multilateral Affairs Jaime Giron and lead advisor Jose Renato Salazar on May 5. Giron had not been aware of the issue prior to our demarche. He expressed his agreement with our main points, and in particular with protecting the OAS's limited budget for use in critical areas; for example, Colombia's paramilitary demobilization process. Giron offered one caveat, however, stating that he needed to confirm if the Interior and Justice Ministry had consulted on the issue with Afro-Colombians and indigenous groups. He promised to provide a final GOC position in the near future. We will continue to press. WOOD