COLOMBIA WELCOMES SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH WOMEN

UNCLAS BOGOTA 008156

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM KWMN PREL CO UNGA
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA WELCOMES SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH WOMEN
LEADERS AT UNGA

REF: SECSTATE 158274

The Government of Colombia (GOC) welcomes reftel initiative
on women's rights at the UNGA and looks forward to
participating, according to Francisco Gonzalez, Coordinator
for North America at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
D/Polcouns informed Gonzalez on August 29 of the Secretary's
initiative and of reftel's suggested Colombian participants.
D/Polcouns added the names of Martha Lucia Vasquez,
Presidential Advisor on Women's Issues; Ana Teresa Bernal,
Director, Redepaz (a Colombian peace NGO); Senator Claudia
Blum; and Minister of Culture Maria Araujo, all of whom would
also be serious interlocutors for the Secretary. Gonzalez
said the GOC would discuss the names of Colombia's
participants at an August 31 UNGA planning meeting and inform
Embassy accordingly.

WOOD