Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BOGOTA4324
2007-06-15 18:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
FARC OFFICIAL RODRIGO GRANDA LIKELY TO END UP IN
how-toVZCZCXYZ0027 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHBO #4324 1661813 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 151813Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6203 INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 9077 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ JUN 8762 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 5140 RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA PRIORITY 0372 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1049 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 5755 RUEHBO/USMILGP BOGOTA CO PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA PRIORITY 0146 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 004324
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PTER CO
SUBJECT: FARC OFFICIAL RODRIGO GRANDA LIKELY TO END UP IN
VENEZUELA
Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 004324
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PTER CO
SUBJECT: FARC OFFICIAL RODRIGO GRANDA LIKELY TO END UP IN
VENEZUELA
Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary: Catholic priest Dario Echeverri said the
GOC's release of unofficial FARC "Foreign Minister" Rodrigo
Granda will not lead to any advances on a humanitarian
exchange in the short-term, but could be helpful in the
long-term. He said the GOC is working to arrange Granda's
travel to Cuba with the understanding that he would later
continue on to Caracas. Granda continues to reside at the
Catholic Bishop's administrative offices in Bogota. End
Summary
2. (C) Unofficial FARC "Foreign Minister" Rodrigo Granda
remains housed at the Catholic Bishop's administrative
offices in Bogota. Catholic priest and Conciliation
Commission member Dario Echeverri told polcouns June 13 that
Granda cannot do anything in his current situation to advance
a humanitarian exchange or broader GOC-FARC peace talks. The
only thing he can do in Bogota is "avoid burning himself with
the FARC." Still, it is important to get him out of Colombia
with his credibility intact with the GOC, FARC and
international community, since he could play a useful role in
the future. Echeverri said FARC Secretariat member and
international spokesperson Raul Reyes and Granda are very
close; three years ago Reyes told Echeverri "to keep Granda
in reserve as a last channel of communications."
3. (C) Echeverri said he and Monsignor Castro attended Peace
Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo's June 8 meeting with
Granda in which Granda asked to be allowed to return to
Caracas and to meet with the FARC Secretariat. President
Uribe approved both requests. Echeverri said Restrepo is
following up with Cuban leader Raul Castro to see if Cuba
would receive Granda with the understanding that he would
later continue on to Caracas. Uribe would call President
Chavez to obtain his support. Echeverri said the
arrangements for Granda's departure could be completed as
early as June 16. At Granda's request, Echeverri would
accompany him to Havana.
4. (C) Echeverri said Granda's repeated press conferences are
a "self-defense mechanism" to maintain his value and position
with the FARC. Still, Echeverri has cautioned Granda that
too much public exposure will undermine the "myth" of his
importance. Echeverri said the more Granda talks to the
press, the more painfully apparent are his personal
limitations and the basic incoherence of his position.
5. (C) Echeverri doubts the FARC will react positively to the
GOC's initiative in the short-term, but said it is important
that the group has not disavowed Granda. Neither the GOC nor
the FARC is motivated by humanitarian concerns regarding the
hostages; both are playing politics. Echeverri said Uribe
already got what he wanted with the G-8 statement of support.
Uribe has also forestalled possible pressure by French
President Sarkozy and other European leaders to accede to
FARC demands for a demilitarized zone. Still, Echeverri
reiterated that Granda's release could be useful in the
future. He said the Church's role in Granda's release has
helped position it as a serious, credible, and
"unconditional" interlocutor with both the GOC and the FARC.
This is key since the Church has had difficulties
communicating with both over the last three years.
Drucker
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PTER CO
SUBJECT: FARC OFFICIAL RODRIGO GRANDA LIKELY TO END UP IN
VENEZUELA
Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary: Catholic priest Dario Echeverri said the
GOC's release of unofficial FARC "Foreign Minister" Rodrigo
Granda will not lead to any advances on a humanitarian
exchange in the short-term, but could be helpful in the
long-term. He said the GOC is working to arrange Granda's
travel to Cuba with the understanding that he would later
continue on to Caracas. Granda continues to reside at the
Catholic Bishop's administrative offices in Bogota. End
Summary
2. (C) Unofficial FARC "Foreign Minister" Rodrigo Granda
remains housed at the Catholic Bishop's administrative
offices in Bogota. Catholic priest and Conciliation
Commission member Dario Echeverri told polcouns June 13 that
Granda cannot do anything in his current situation to advance
a humanitarian exchange or broader GOC-FARC peace talks. The
only thing he can do in Bogota is "avoid burning himself with
the FARC." Still, it is important to get him out of Colombia
with his credibility intact with the GOC, FARC and
international community, since he could play a useful role in
the future. Echeverri said FARC Secretariat member and
international spokesperson Raul Reyes and Granda are very
close; three years ago Reyes told Echeverri "to keep Granda
in reserve as a last channel of communications."
3. (C) Echeverri said he and Monsignor Castro attended Peace
Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo's June 8 meeting with
Granda in which Granda asked to be allowed to return to
Caracas and to meet with the FARC Secretariat. President
Uribe approved both requests. Echeverri said Restrepo is
following up with Cuban leader Raul Castro to see if Cuba
would receive Granda with the understanding that he would
later continue on to Caracas. Uribe would call President
Chavez to obtain his support. Echeverri said the
arrangements for Granda's departure could be completed as
early as June 16. At Granda's request, Echeverri would
accompany him to Havana.
4. (C) Echeverri said Granda's repeated press conferences are
a "self-defense mechanism" to maintain his value and position
with the FARC. Still, Echeverri has cautioned Granda that
too much public exposure will undermine the "myth" of his
importance. Echeverri said the more Granda talks to the
press, the more painfully apparent are his personal
limitations and the basic incoherence of his position.
5. (C) Echeverri doubts the FARC will react positively to the
GOC's initiative in the short-term, but said it is important
that the group has not disavowed Granda. Neither the GOC nor
the FARC is motivated by humanitarian concerns regarding the
hostages; both are playing politics. Echeverri said Uribe
already got what he wanted with the G-8 statement of support.
Uribe has also forestalled possible pressure by French
President Sarkozy and other European leaders to accede to
FARC demands for a demilitarized zone. Still, Echeverri
reiterated that Granda's release could be useful in the
future. He said the Church's role in Granda's release has
helped position it as a serious, credible, and
"unconditional" interlocutor with both the GOC and the FARC.
This is key since the Church has had difficulties
communicating with both over the last three years.
Drucker