FORMER FM MARIA EMMA MEJIA AND AMB WOOD DISCUSS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 000848 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2016 TAGS: CO PGOV PHUM PREL ELN ELN SUBJECT: FORMER FM MARIA EMMA MEJIA AND AMB WOOD DISCUSS GOC-ELN PEACE PROCESS, OBSTACLES TO FARC TALKS Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood Reason: 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) Summary. Former Foreign Minister Maria Emma Mejia told the Ambassador January 24 that the GOC-ELN talks are making slow but steady progress, and that the ELN is on an "irreversible" path toward demobilization. She said the ELN and the FARC will reject Justice and Peace (J and P) law terms, and noted that extradition issues could complicate future FARC talks. Mejia was a GOC negotiator in the peace process with the ELN and FARC while in government from 1995-1998, and would travel to Havana to observe the next round of exploratory talks between the GOC and ELN beginning February 9. Mejia also commented on her recent withdrawl from the Polo Democratico Alternativo candidate list (septel). End Summary. -------------- Peace Process with the ELN and FARC -------------- ¶2. (C) Mejia believes the GOC-ELN "talks about talks" are going well and that the ELN "is on an irreversible path towards peace." In Mejia's view, the ELN will demobilize in due time. Mejia said the GOC "is doing enough to advance the negotiations." Progress is slow, but steady. ¶3. (C) The Ambassador said the ELN and FARC should not get a more advantageous deal from the GOC than the AUC received through the J and P law. Five to eight-year prison sentences for J and P beneficiaries is expected to be a tough sell with the guerrillas. He asked what the GOC might do if these groups do not accept J and P sentences. Mejia replied that the ELN and FARC probably would not accept the terms of J and P, but argued that the GOC would find it difficult to revisit J and P sentences for paramilitaries, no matter what terms the ELN and FARC eventually accept. The Ambassador said the FARC's narcotics trafficking has ensured our request to extradite some key FARC operatives and that this could affect eventual peace talks. Such complications did not exist with the ELN, as they have not been heavily involved with drug trafficking. Mejia said the GOC faces a significant negotiating challenge because they have already extradited key FARC operatives Simon Trinidad (Ricardo Palmera) and Sonia (Anayibe Rojas Valderrama),while allowing a "delay" in deciding on the extradition of Don Berna (Diego Murillo) and Salvatore Mancuso. This sort of "disparate treatment" for paramilitaries has not gone unnoticed by the FARC, she said. WOOD