AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH GOVERNOR OF VALLE DE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 006223 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2015 TAGS: PGOV PREF PHUM PINR CO SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH GOVERNOR OF VALLE DE CAUCA Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary. On June 24 the Ambassador met with the Governor of the Department of Valle de Cauca. The Governor endorsed Uribe's Democratic Security policy and the use of a legal framework like the newly adopted Justice and Peace law to demobilize the AUC and the FARC. He said the FARC may be missing a golden opportunity to negotiate a demobilization in the current environment. End summary. ¶2. (C) Dr. Angelino Garzon was elected Governor of the Department of Valle de Cauca in 2003, and is a leader of the left and a member of the Polo Democratico. Garzon told the Ambassador that "Everyone wants peace and security. Without security, people can't participate in democracy." While emphasizing that social programs were important for the protection of vulnerable communities in the region, security had to come first. Garzon said if the Constitutional Court approved the reelection law, parties on the left would not pose a threat to President Uribe if they relied on a "traditional leftist agenda, emphasizing only social welfare programs." He said Uribe understood that security and social welfare programs both cost money, and that it was important not to limit his agenda to one issue like welfare reform, but also to push for more economic and business development in the country. ¶3. (C) Garzon saw progress in Uribe's Democratic Security policy, and said that "the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) have reached their apogee." The only logical next step would be for the international community and other groups like the Church and NGOs to pressure the GOC to create a legal framework for the FARC to demobilize. "Uribe is holding all the cards," he said; "he can continue the conflict with the FARC or offer it the option to legally negotiate a settlement. But we have to keep the pressure on so that the FARC will see the endgame and realize that by not ending its kidnapping and narcotrafficking now it is missing an opportunity to negotiate its future." Expressing doubts about whether FARC leaders were really capable of rationally negotiating demobilization, the Ambassador asked Garzon whether he thought this was the most opportune moment for a settlement. Garzon responded that there was support at many levels of the GOC to achieve an accord with the FARC -- even within the military. Even though the military shares responsibility for the harm that has come to Colombians, he has heard that they know that now is the right time for an accord, and that provoking desertions is working. ¶4. (C) Regarding the Justice and Peace law (see septels) recently approved by the Congress, Garzon said it was created with the influences of NGOs and the international community. "It's not a perfect law, but it's a good political tool. It's not a perfect process, but it's a process. People are always going to look for complete reparation. With this law, they will look at what they have to give up in order to get peace." Garzon said illegal armed groups had been able to wield influence at all levels of Government, but that by using a legal framework for demobilization, Colombia would maintain its character as a democracy and a country of law. WOOD