FATHER ECHEVERRI: NEXT ROUND OF ELN/GOC

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 003692

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2016
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV CO
SUBJECT: FATHER ECHEVERRI: NEXT ROUND OF ELN/GOC
NEGOTIATIONS MORE SYMBOLIC THAN SUBSTANTIVE

REF: BOGOTA 3252

Classified By: Political Counselor Jeffrey DeLaurentis;
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

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Summary
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1. (C) Senate Staffer Tim Rieser and Polcouns met with
Father Dario Echeverri, Secretary General of the National
Conciliation Commission (strictly protect),April 21 to
discuss GOC talks with the National Liberation Army (ELN).
Echeverri believes the next round of talks, scheduled to
begin April 26, will be more symbolic than substantive; he
does not expect real progress until after the May 28
presidential elections. Echeverri was frustrated by the
ELN's failure to visit Bogota while at the Peace House ("Casa
de Paz") outside Medellin earlier in April. He blamed Cuba
and Venezuela for persuading the ELN not to visit Bogota
because of security concerns. In Echeverri's opinion, the
talks are likely to remain in Havana, in part because the
closed environment helps the GOC contain the ELN's
international profile and appeases Venezuela. Father
Echeverri said the Church was willing to play a facilitation
role if asked. End Summary.

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Progress Slow Until After the Elections
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2. (C) Senate Staffer Tim Rieser, accompanied by Polcouns
and Poloff (note taker),met with Father Echeverri, Secretary
General of the National Conciliation Commission, on April 21.
Echeverri said continued negotiations were important for
both the GOC and the ELN, but did not expect any real
progress at the third round of talks or before presidential
elections at the end of May. In his opinion, the third round
is designed to maintain momentum, particularly since both
sides need to be seen as committed to the process. It will
not be a real dialogue. He noted ELN spokesperson Gerardo
Antonio Bermudez Sanchez, AKA "Francisco Galan," is irritated
with the GOC because of its "obvious mistrust" of the
process.


3. (C) According to Echeverri, Galan regards the GOC's
refusal to suspend arrest warrants for and provide passports
and more extensive travel permission to all members of the
ELN leadership as "offensive" and "inadequate." Despite
this, Echeverri believes there is a good chance for progress
after the elections, particularly because a second-term Uribe
administration will not be "starting from scratch" with the
ELN.

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ELN Objectives; Continued Narcotrafficking
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4. (C) Echeverri believes the ELN has a "smaller agenda"
than many might suppose, but certain issues are showstoppers.
These include a national conference on alternative economic
systems, increased regional participation in the peace
process and increased GOC attention to humanitarian and
social issues. Father Echeverri said he was concerned the
ELN's growing involvement narcotrafficking would further
complicate the peace process.

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April Visit to Medellin Lost Opportunity for ELN
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5. (C) Echeverri expressed frustration with the ELN for not
accepting the Church's offer of safe haven in Bogota while
visiting the Casa de Paz outside Medellin. In Echeverri's
view, the ELN could have achieved more of its goals with a
visit to Bogota. These goals, according to Echeverri,
include increased opportunities to interact with civil
society groups like university professors and students and
indigenous communities. He said the Cubans and Venezuelans
convinced Galan and other leaders to remain in Medellin by
stressing security concerns (see reftel). Echeverri noted
the ironic result of this decision: staying in Medellin
thwarted ELN efforts to meet with other groups.

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Talks Likely to Remain in Cuba
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6. (C) Echeverri said talks will likely stay in Havana,
despite the ELN's continued interest in moving them to Europe
or Panama. He said the GOC is comfortable with the talks
remaining in Cuba because the environment is "closed,"
preventing the ELN from achieving a greater international
profile it could not achieve on the battlefield. He also
said the GOC has stopped pushing for a Colombia venue in an
attempt to appease Venezuela, trading Cuban involvement in
the talks for acceptance of the Free Trade Agreement with the
United States. Echeverri said the Cubans want to remain
involved, which could indicate they believe the process is
real and important.

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Too Many Cooks in the Peace Talks Kitchen
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7. (C) Rieser noted the confusion that could be caused by
the array of guarantors, facilitators, country
representatives, civil society groups and commissions
involved in the ELN/GOC talks. Echeverri agreed there were
too many involved, which complicated the process. He hoped
fewer would be involved as talks went forward, but
underscored the Church's willingness to play a facilitating
role.
WOOD