Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BOGOTA2923
2007-04-30 22:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:  

PDAS SHAPIRO MEETS WITH MOD SANTOS

Tags:  PGOV PREL CO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #2923/01 1202254
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 302254Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4444
INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 8932
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ MAY LIMA 4994
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA 0237
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 5617
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 002923 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL CO
SUBJECT: PDAS SHAPIRO MEETS WITH MOD SANTOS


Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer
Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d)


-------
Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 002923

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL CO
SUBJECT: PDAS SHAPIRO MEETS WITH MOD SANTOS


Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer
Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d)


--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (C) Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos told WHA PDAS
Charles Shapiro that Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa was
seeking to provoke a confrontation with Colombia to
strengthen his domestic political position. Colombia was
working with Peru, Mexico and Chile to deepen economic
integration and to provide a contrast to Venezuelan President
Chavez' Bolivarian economic model. The Charge stressed that
alleged ties between COLMIL units and paramilitaries required
investigation and prosecution, not just dismissal. Santos
said Vice Minister Pinzon would soon present the GOC's
thinking on nationalization to INL A/S Anne Patterson. End
summary.


2. (U) On April 18, WHA PDAS Shapiro met with Defense
Minister Santos. Shapiro was accompanied by WHA Senior PD
Advisor Maria Pia Tamburri, CDA Drucker, Polcouns,
D/Polcouns, and pol/mil officer (notetaker). Santos was
accompanied by Vice Minister Sergio Jaramillo.

--------------
Ecuador: Combative vs. Colombia
--------------


3. (C) Santos said, "Ecuador wants to pick a fight, for
internal reasons," but the GOC would be patient and would
continue to seek dialogue with Quito. The GOC's approach was
to ignore the GOE's "aggressive language," such as President
Correa's recent threat to shoot down spray planes intruding
into Ecuadorian airspace. Santos said he countered such
provocation with notes to his Ecuadorian counterpart that
were so cordial as to be "almost love letters." In ongoing
bilateral meetings on the environmental impact of spraying,
the Ecuadorians were more interested in blaming the
Colombians than in finding solutions. Just as Venezuela's
Chavez used the U.S. as an all-purpose enemy, Correa had
chosen Colombia -- a "very intelligent strategy" that
resonated with Ecuadorian voters tired of being Colombia's
"little brother."

--------------
A Potential Pacific Bloc
--------------


4. (C) Santos said the GOC is working closely with Peru,
Mexico and Chile to form a group of like-minded countries
committed to deeper economic integration. This bloc would

espouse "free trade, free markets, and democracy,
highlighting the contrast with Venezuela." Santos said
ratification of the bilateral free trade agreement (CTPA) was
vital in this regard. Failure would weaken President Uribe
and boost Chavez' Bolivarian model. Shapiro assured Santos
that the administration would make every effort to secure
U.S. congressional passage of the three pending Latin
American CTPAs. Santos said the GOC had evidence and
arguments to persuade even skeptical U.S. members of Congress
on Colombia's progress. He stressed that across the board
--labor, environment, displacement--the GOC had met
Congressional wishes.

--------------
Prosecuting COLMIL Ties to Paras
--------------


5. (C) The Charge conveyed U.S. concern over alleged ties
between some COLMIL units and new criminal groups, stressing
that offenders must be investigated and, if warranted,
prosecuted. Mere dismissal would not deter future offenders.
Moreover, the Leahy Amendment governing U.S. military aid
required that accused members of the COLMIL be investigated
and tried, not just removed from duty. Santos agreed human
rights violators must be punished, and said he was
aggressively using his discretional authority to dismiss such
individuals from the military. He understood the importance
of also investigating and prosecuting personnel implicated in
human rights abuses, but said building criminal cases
required more time. Santos asked the U.S. to share evidence
of human rights allegations to enable the COLMIL to take more
cases to trial.

-------------- --------------
Narino: FARC Strategies to Thwart Colmil Operations


6. (C) Shapiro said the deteriorating situation in Narino
department was a central concern. The Charge warned that El
Charco municipality, where more than 9000 residents were
recently displaced by fighting between the COLMIL and the
FARC, risked becoming Colombia's next human rights and
humanitarian crisis. It was essential that the COLMIL
incorporate contingency plans to deal with displaced persons
into its military operational planning. Santos agreed the
situation in Charco was deplorable, but said the displacement
was deliberately orchestrated by the FARC before the COLMIL
operation had even begun. This was a common FARC tactic to
hinder COLMIL operations and harm its public image. He said
the COLMIL could not refrain from conducting military
operations due to FARC-organized displacements, but
recognized the COLMIL needed to be better prepared to deal
with humanitarian developments..

--------------
Nationalization
--------------


7. (C) PDAS Shapiro raised the issue of USG financial
support for Plan Colombia and the GOC's gradual assumption of
a greater share of the costs. Shapiro said the U.S. hoped to
keep its contribution steady over the next two years, but
stressed that funding would begin to gradually fall at that
point. Santos said he understood this. His proposal was "to
start now, to save money, to nationalize programs that you do
now very expensively and we could do more cheaply." Santos
said Vice Minister Pinzon would meet soon with INL A/S
Patterson to explain GOC thinking on nationalization.


8. (U) PDAS Shapiro did not have an opportunity to clear
this message.


Drucker