Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BOGOTA11305
2006-12-18 21:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
GOC-ELN TALKS TO RESUME IN JANUARY; PARTIES SAID
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHBO #1305 3522142 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 182142Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1431 INFO RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN PRIORITY 1209 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 7322 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 8528 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ DEC 8428 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 4589 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 9547 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 0362 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 5247 RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA PRIORITY 0133
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 011305
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2016
TAGS: PTER PGOV PHUM MARR CO
SUBJECT: GOC-ELN TALKS TO RESUME IN JANUARY; PARTIES SAID
TO BE WORKING ON JOINT PEACE PLAN
REF: BOGOTA 11045
Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer
Reason: 1.4 (b,d)
-------
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 011305
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2016
TAGS: PTER PGOV PHUM MARR CO
SUBJECT: GOC-ELN TALKS TO RESUME IN JANUARY; PARTIES SAID
TO BE WORKING ON JOINT PEACE PLAN
REF: BOGOTA 11045
Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer
Reason: 1.4 (b,d)
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) GOC-ELN civil society guarantor Moritz Akerman told
us the peace talks will resume January 15-20 in Havana.
Akerman and Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo's
advisor, Dario Mejia, told us the parties had agreed on an
outline of a joint text that would be discussed in January,
although in Akerman's version the scope of the accord is
greater. Mejia said a recent guarantor road map was heavily
influenced by the ELN, and Restrepo had advised against its
publication. Still, the road map may have kept momentum
going after the ELN's unwillingness to meet in December. End
summary.
--------------
Talks Resume in January
--------------
2. (C) Akerman told us the next session of GOC-ELN talks
will take place January 15-20 in Havana. Akerman said the
ELN decided to postpone the previously scheduled mid-December
talks because it wanted to see how weak the GOC would get as
a result of the "para-politician" controversy. Mejia claimed
ELN leaders were focused on resolving internal differences.
The ELN publicly said it would not be able to make the
December schedule for administrative and logistical reasons.
--------------
Parties Said to Agree on Outlines of Accord
--------------
3. (C) Akerman reported that Galan and Restrepo had agreed
on the outlines of a joint peace accord that both sides hoped
to flesh out over the next few weeks and present to the
January 15-20 session. The tentative accord addressed:
ceasefire and related technical preparations, displaced
people, ELN financing, ELN regional political activity,
release of ELN kidnap victims, and demining. Mejia told us
the accord outline was narrower, covering displaced people,
demining, and a ceasefire.
--------------
Guarantor Proposal May Have Helped
--------------
4. (C) On December 11, the civil society guarantors
published a road map for the next phase of the negotiations
(reftel). Mejia said the GOC saw the guarantor text shortly
before it was published but did not provide input; the text
appeared to have a heavy ELN influence. Mejia contended the
text made no reference to ELN disarmament or demobilization,
and provided for ELN prisoners to be released before ELN
kidnap victims. Restrepo had advised against its
publication, preferring to keep talks private. Separately,
Akerman disagreed with Mejia, saying Restrepo made
substantive edits to the text. Akerman insisted the proposal
addressed disarmament, demobilization, and simultaneous
release of prisoners and victims. The text is vague enough
to encompass different interpretations. Still, the
publication may have helped maintain momentum in the wake of
the ELN's unwillingness to meet in mid-December.
--------------
Venezuela's Marginal Role
--------------
5. (C) Mejia said the GOC regarded as potentially helpful
Chavez' designation of Tachira Governor Diosdao Cabello as
the GOV representative to the talks. Cabello was close to
Chavez and, as Chavez' personal representative in the talks,
could play a positive role. Akerman was more critical of
Cabello, saying he was already being unhelpful.
WOOD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2016
TAGS: PTER PGOV PHUM MARR CO
SUBJECT: GOC-ELN TALKS TO RESUME IN JANUARY; PARTIES SAID
TO BE WORKING ON JOINT PEACE PLAN
REF: BOGOTA 11045
Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer
Reason: 1.4 (b,d)
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) GOC-ELN civil society guarantor Moritz Akerman told
us the peace talks will resume January 15-20 in Havana.
Akerman and Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo's
advisor, Dario Mejia, told us the parties had agreed on an
outline of a joint text that would be discussed in January,
although in Akerman's version the scope of the accord is
greater. Mejia said a recent guarantor road map was heavily
influenced by the ELN, and Restrepo had advised against its
publication. Still, the road map may have kept momentum
going after the ELN's unwillingness to meet in December. End
summary.
--------------
Talks Resume in January
--------------
2. (C) Akerman told us the next session of GOC-ELN talks
will take place January 15-20 in Havana. Akerman said the
ELN decided to postpone the previously scheduled mid-December
talks because it wanted to see how weak the GOC would get as
a result of the "para-politician" controversy. Mejia claimed
ELN leaders were focused on resolving internal differences.
The ELN publicly said it would not be able to make the
December schedule for administrative and logistical reasons.
--------------
Parties Said to Agree on Outlines of Accord
--------------
3. (C) Akerman reported that Galan and Restrepo had agreed
on the outlines of a joint peace accord that both sides hoped
to flesh out over the next few weeks and present to the
January 15-20 session. The tentative accord addressed:
ceasefire and related technical preparations, displaced
people, ELN financing, ELN regional political activity,
release of ELN kidnap victims, and demining. Mejia told us
the accord outline was narrower, covering displaced people,
demining, and a ceasefire.
--------------
Guarantor Proposal May Have Helped
--------------
4. (C) On December 11, the civil society guarantors
published a road map for the next phase of the negotiations
(reftel). Mejia said the GOC saw the guarantor text shortly
before it was published but did not provide input; the text
appeared to have a heavy ELN influence. Mejia contended the
text made no reference to ELN disarmament or demobilization,
and provided for ELN prisoners to be released before ELN
kidnap victims. Restrepo had advised against its
publication, preferring to keep talks private. Separately,
Akerman disagreed with Mejia, saying Restrepo made
substantive edits to the text. Akerman insisted the proposal
addressed disarmament, demobilization, and simultaneous
release of prisoners and victims. The text is vague enough
to encompass different interpretations. Still, the
publication may have helped maintain momentum in the wake of
the ELN's unwillingness to meet in mid-December.
--------------
Venezuela's Marginal Role
--------------
5. (C) Mejia said the GOC regarded as potentially helpful
Chavez' designation of Tachira Governor Diosdao Cabello as
the GOV representative to the talks. Cabello was close to
Chavez and, as Chavez' personal representative in the talks,
could play a positive role. Akerman was more critical of
Cabello, saying he was already being unhelpful.
WOOD