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)

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Summary
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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.

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Garzon: Pacific Coast Needs Investment to Develop
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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.

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Garzon: The Polo Doesn't Yet Know What it Means to Govern
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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