C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTIAGO 002352

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/AND (FIFE), USOAS/POL (GARCIA), WHA/BSC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2015
TAGS: EAID PTER OAS PREL CO CI
SUBJECT: CHILE LOOKING TO CONTRIBUTE TO OAS MISSION IN
COLOMBIA

REF: STATE 207709

Classified By: Ambassador Craig Kelly. Reasons: 1.4 (b and d).


1. (C) The Ambassador delivered reftel demarche on support
for the OAS Mission in Colombia to Foreign Ministry Director
General for External Affairs Carlos Portales (the number 3 in
the MFA) on November 16. The Ambassador noted the OAS
Mission was playing an essential role in the peace process,
but contributions to date had fallen short of what was
needed. He noted our understanding that Chile was
considering contributing and asked for more details.


2. (C) Portales affirmed the GOC was committed at the highest
political level to supporting the peace process. MFA
Director of Multilateral Affairs Pedro Oyarce, who was also
present at the meeting, elaborated that President Lagos
recently had told President Uribe that Chile wanted to play
an active role in Colombia. As a result, Chile was reviewing
its assistance to Colombia with an eye towards identifying
"concrete projects" that would further the peace process.
Oyarce added that while Chile most likely would make
contributions to the OAS Mission in the area of human rights
and "two or three other areas," the Chilean government had
not decided whether to make a financial contribution.
Neither Portales nor Oyarce indicated when Chile was likely
to finalize its decision-making process on assistance for the
OAS Mission.
KELLY