COLOMBIA ISSUES STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF U.S. OFFER

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 004947

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/IR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOC IR CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA ISSUES STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF U.S. OFFER
TO IRAN

REF: STATE 87682

Classified By: A/PolCouns Scott Hamilton; Reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) Ambassador Wood encouraged President Uribe's office
on May 31 to issue a statement in support of the U.S. offer
to join the EU-3 negotiations if Iran fully and verifiably
suspends its enrichment and reprocessing activities (reftel).
In a follow up meeting with Foreign Minister Carolina Barco
and Vice Minister Camilo Reyes, also on May 31, PolCouns
reiterated the USG position and request. The GOC issued a
statement on Jue 1. Informal Embassy translation of the GOC
statement follows.


2. (U) BEGIN INFORMAL TRANSLATION

Press Release

With respect to the statement made yesterday by the U.S.
Secretary of State regarding Iran's nuclear program, the

SIPDIS
Government of Colombia makes the following statement:


1. In the judgment of the Government of Colombia, the
statement constitutes a fundamental step in the search for a
diplomatic solution to the issue of the Islamic Republic of
Iran's nuclear program, which is consistent with the position
the Government of Colombia has maintained as a member of the
Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA).


2. The Government of Colombia is pleased that the statement
recognized that all States have the right to develop nuclear
energy for peaceful purposes and that the statement called on
the Islamic Republic of Iran to fully comply with the
resolutions adopted by the IAEA.


3. Given recent developments, the Government of Colombia
again exhorts the Government of Iran to cooperate with the
efforts of the international community, the United States,
the EU-3, and other States to find a negotiated solution to
preserve peace and international security.

END INFORMAL TRANSLATION

WOOD