BILATERAL WORKING GROUP JOINT STATEMENT

UNCLAS BOGOTA 004628 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PREL PTER MOPS CO SUBJECT: BILATERAL WORKING GROUP JOINT STATEMENT ¶1. (U) On May 4 to 5, a U.S. delegation led by Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Douglas Feith held a SIPDIS Bilateral Working Group with Colombian military and government officials in Cartagena. During the conference, U/S Feith and Defense Minister Jorge Alberto Uribe signed a joint statement (original text will be pouched to the Department). -------------- Joint Statement -------------- ¶2. (U) Begin text: 4 May 2005 Joint Statement Delegations representing the Government of the United States of America and the Republic of Colombia met in Cartagena, Colombia, from May 4-5, 2005, to participate in the Fifth Bilateral Working Group meeting. The discussions were very cordial and productive. The members of the respective delegations are indicated on the attached lists. The delegations, recognizing the effective cooperation between our two countries, agreed that this partnership can be reinforced and developed in various areas of security and defense; aware of the significant contribution which this cooperation could make towards overall security; affirmed their commitment to improve bilateral relations between the two countries. It is the intent of the two delegations that representatives from the Republic of Colombia as well as from the United States of America will meet to improve defense relations between the two countries. For the Delegation of the United States of America: signed Douglas Feith For the Delegation of the Republic of Colombia: signed Jorge Alberto Uribe End text. WOOD