C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 008050

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2015
TAGS: SOCI KSUM VE CO OAS
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA ON SOCIAL CHARTER

REF: SECSTATE 154693

Classified By: Poltical Counselor Jeffrey DeLaurentis for
reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) Poloffs delivered reftel demarche to MFA North America
and Summit of the Americas Coordinator Francisco Gonzalez on
August 24. Poloffs stressed the importance of creating a
consensus Social Charter, within the framework of the OAS,
and noted that Chavez's maneuver subverted the process.


2. (C) Gonzalez said GOC Ambassador to the OAS Alvaro Tirado
Mejia would head a delegation to the Caracas meeting that
would include Vice Minister of Social Protection Ramiro
Carvajal, VM of National Planning Jose Fernando Arias,
Ambassador to Venezuela Enrique Vargas, and DCM Luis Alberto
Lobo. The delegation has been instructed to brief on the
GOC's domestic social programs, but not to enter into
negotiations. Gonzalez said having their OAS Ambassador lead
the delegation sent the message that the OAS is the
appropriate forum to discuss the Social Charter.


3. (C) Gonzalez acknowledged the importance of consensus and
reckoned that it would be difficult to achieve -- not only on
the Social Charter but also in the Summit of the Americas
more generally -- given Venezuela's aggressive posture.
WOOD