AMBASSADOR AND GOVERNOR OF VALLE DEL CAUCA DISCUSS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 006011 SIPDIS SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D COPY //SUBJECT LINE SPELLING E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2016 TAGS: PGOV EAID SNAR CO SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND GOVERNOR OF VALLE DEL CAUCA DISCUSS DEVELOPMENT ALONG COLOMBIA'S PACIFIC COAST REF: BOGOTA 5297 (NOTAL) Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood; Reasons 1.4 (b,d) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Ambassador Wood and Valle del Cauca Governor Angelino Garzon met June 28 to discuss development of Colombia's Pacific coast. Ambassador and Garzon agreed that the time had come to focus attention and resources on the Pacific. Garzon, a member of the leftist Polo Democratico Alternativo party, is concerned the party is too focused on philosophy, vice governance, and emphasized that the party needs to make it clear it does not support insurgents well before presidential elections in 2010. -------------- -------------- Garzon: Pacific Coast Needs Investment to Develop -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) On June 28, Ambassador Wood and Valle del Cauca Governor Garzon met as part of early explorations into how the U.S. can assist in the development of Colombia's Pacific coast. While the central government has traditionally focused on the Atlantic Coast, Garzon agreed the GOC needs to focus on the Pacific Coast, home to illegal armed groups, including the Armed Revolutionary Forces of Colombia (FARC), National Liberation Army (ELN) and paramilitaries, as well as narcotraffickers like the North Valle Cartel - all of whom take advantage of the region's extensive waterways through near virgin forests to move people and goods to and from the Pacific. Both Garzon and the Ambassador also agreed the region has untapped development potential. ¶3. (C) Garzon emphasized the need for increased investment in Buenaventura, home to the largest port on the Pacific Coast, especially in transportation and communications infrastructure. He noted the GOC was already funding improvements to the port, as well as a recent meeting with President Uribe, who promised support, especially for infrastructure. Garzon hoped improved infrastructure will attract foreign investment, creating needed jobs in the region. He acknowledged, however, that the presence of illegal armed groups and narcotraffickers is keeping would-be investors away. For this reason, he also stressed the need for improved intelligence infrastructure in the region as well. ¶4. (C) For Garzon, other key projects in Valle del Cauca Department and along the coast include increasing access to medical care, especially for children, and improving the quality of hospitals and schools. He said the Department would welcome U.S. technical and financial assistance in these areas. Garzon was pleased with U.S. interest and agreed on the importance of an approach combining security assistance with development. -------------- -------------- Garzon: The Polo Doesn't Yet Know What it Means to Govern -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) Garzon said the Polo did well in southwestern Colombia (Valle del Cauca, Valle, Narino and Putumayo Departments) in the recent presidential elections, where vote totals for the party were above the national average of 22 percent, because residents are not confident President Uribe can negotiate a lasting peace with the FARC. Garzon said the vote totals were more about Uribe than about the Polo. He said the party must clearly distance itself from the FARC and ELN and develop a concrete plan for governing the country if it wants to win the presidency in 2010. Garzon said most party leaders don't have his real world experience in governance: he makes tough decisions every day and is accountable to the people. For this reason, he is more pragmatic and often referred to as "Uribista" by others in the party. Garzon emphasized his commitment to the Polo - and its social development goals - but recognized that the party has an uphill battle if it is going to convince the voters it can effectively govern. WOOD