CODEL DAVIS: TERRORISM, DRUGS, FTA IN COLOMBIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 005566

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL ETRD OREP SNAR CO
SUBJECT: CODEL DAVIS: TERRORISM, DRUGS, FTA IN COLOMBIA


Classified By: Charge Milton K. Drucker for reason 1.4 D.


1. (U) Summary. Representative Tom Davis (R-VA),Chairman
of the House Government Reform Committee, led a Congressional
delegation to Colombia June 1 to June 3. Other Government
Reform Committee members included Rep. Candice Miller (R-MI),
Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD),and Rep. Carolyn Maloney
(D-NY). Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) from the House Appropriations
Committee also attended. Codel Davis focused on bilateral
cooperation in fighting narcotics trafficking and terrorism
and obtaining an update on bilateral negotiations on the
Andean Free Trade Agreement. The delegation met with
Minister of Trade Botero and conducted a site visit to a coca
manual eradication site supported by post's Narcotics Affairs
Section. A meeting with President Uribe, Minister of Foreign
Relations Barco, and Minister of Defense Uribe will be
reported septel. End Summary.

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Ministry of Trade -- CAFTA and Andean FTA Discussed
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2. (C) On June 1, the delegation met with Minister of Trade
Botero, Vice Minister Munoz, and FTA chief negotiator Gomez
to discuss the current state of play of the Andean FTA. Rep.
Davis opened the meeting by stating the debate in the U.S.
Congress over CAFTA was delicate, with 20 or more votes
needed to pass the House. Davis expressed his support for
Colombian President Uribe,s leadership, as well as his
support for CAFTA and the Andean FTA. He then invited the
other members of the delegation to express their opinions.
Rep. Miller stated that while she supported free trade, no
one in her district had expressed any support for CAFTA.
Rep. Maloney outlined her reservations about CAFTA and
concerns about labor issues. Rep. Ruppersberger said he
personally could support free trade, but many in his district
did not support CAFTA. He noted that his district included
large companies who had suffered from foreign competition.
Rep. Wolf stated his concern about the lack of strong action
against China, especially regarding protection of
intellectual property rights, and his intent to vote against
any agreement until the administration took a hard line
stance on human rights in China.


3. (C) Minister Botero expressed his concerns about the need
for more flexibility from the United States regarding
agriculture and his belief that the FTA would be a win-win
situation for both our countries. Botero added that
Colombia,s concern about hurting the local agricultural
sector was a national security matter, as those that left
legal products would either turn to cultivation coca or the
guerrilla groups. Gomez then went on to explain that
Colombia was a growing, billion dollar a year agricultural
market and that the U.S. only had half the market. With an
FTA, the U.S. percentage could grow to 70-80 percent overall,
and almost total dominance in wheat, corn, and barley. As it
stood, Colombia was the United States' biggest agricultural
market south of Mexico and the GOC was prepared to give the
U.S. an even bigger market in exchange for concessions on
market access to the U.S. for Colombian agricultural items.
Rep. Davis said he would be glad to share the Minister,s
concerns with USTR Portman.

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Visit to Manual Eradication Project
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4. (U) Codel members and staff traveled to Pauna, Department
of Boyaca in Colombian National Police (CNP) UH-60L
Blackhawks to observe CNP manual coca eradication activities
the morning of June 2. Through hands-on experience and
in-field briefings by CNP Antinarcotics Director General
Gomez and his eradication staff, the delegation learned that
in selected areas and with adequate security, manual
eradication can be a useful complement to aerial eradication.
General Gomez and his staff explained that in isolated
cases, i.e., where it is difficult to spray from the air
because of very small field size, permanent cloud cover, or
high winds, manual eradication can be cost-effective. The
delegation also noted the limitations on such activities
imposed by rugged terrain, rigorous working conditions, and
the limited ground transport capabilities of the CNP. The
CNP's Judicial Police also briefed the delegation on GOC's
ongoing initiative to seize properties of landowners who grow
illicit crops on their land.


5. (U) The Colombian American Chamber of Commerce hosted a
dinner on June 1 for the delegation and American Chamber
members. The Ambassador hosted a dinner for the delegation
and key Colombian Congressional leadership on June 2. The
delegation had a chance to exchange ideas with counterparts
on the legislative process, the law on peace and justice,
Plan Colombia, and the Free Trade Agreement.


6. (U) Codel Davis was unable to clear this cable before
departure.
DRUCKER