CHAVEZ OFFERS TO HELP NEGOTIATE COLOMBIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 006186 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/2017 TAGS: MARR PGOV PREL PTER CO SUBJECT: CHAVEZ OFFERS TO HELP NEGOTIATE COLOMBIAN HUMANITARIAN EXCHANGE Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer. Reason: 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Venezuelan President Chavez met with relatives of FARC-held hostages and offered to act as an observer/guarantor for a humanitarian exchange. He also suggested Venezuela as a possible site for talks. Colombian Liberal party Senator Piedad Cordoba set up the meeting after President Uribe authorized her to act as an intermediary with the FARC. Presidential advisor Jose Obdulio Gaviria told us the GOC knew Cordoba would seek Chavez's help, but believes it can limit his capacity to exploit his role for political benefit. The GOC thinks Chavez' efforts will fail, and its opposition to creation of a demilitarized zone within Colombia for talks remains firm. End Summary. -------------- Chavez Meets Relatives of FARC Hostages -------------- ¶2. (U) President Hugo Chavez met with 14 relatives of hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) at his office in Caracas on August 20. At the televised meeting, Chavez said that he would not "rest in search" of a humanitarian exchange of FARC-held hostages for FARC terrorists held by the GOC. High-profile hostage relatives attended the meeting, including Yolanda Pulecio, mother of ex-presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, and teacher Gustavo Moncayo, who recently finished a widely-publicized walk across Colombia to draw attention to his hostage son's plight. ¶3. (U) Chavez urged FARC leader Manuel "Sureshot" Marulanda to consider a humanitarian accord, and said both the GOC and FARC would have to make concessions if an exchange were to occur. Chavez offered to act as "an observer and guarantor" for an exchange, and suggested Venezuela as a possible site for talks. As a goodwill gesture, Chavez said he would pardon some of the 27 Colombians serving prison terms in Venezuela for involvement in an alleged 2004 plot to kill him. Chavez is scheduled to travel to Bogota on August 31 to meet with President Uribe to discuss an exchange. ¶4. (U) Colombian Liberal party Senator Piedad Cordoba, herself a kidnap victim of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) in 1999, arranged the meeting. President Uribe recently authorized Cordoba, a harsh critic of the president, to act as intermediary with the FARC on a humanitarian exchange. Cordoba said she turned to Chavez for help because he has a "great deal of credibility with the government and people of Colombia." Chavez called Cordoba a member of the "Chavista caucus." -------------- -------------- GOC Supports Chavez Intervention for "Humanitarian" Reasons -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) Jose Obdulio Gaviria, a senior advisor and speechwriter for President Uribe, told us August 21 the GOC knew Cordoba would seek Chavez's help. He said humanitarian concerns are behind the GOC acceptance of Chavez's role, and noted the GOC had authorized other political opponents, such as Communist party leader Carlos Lozano, to work for an exchange. Gaviria said the GOC hopes the FARC will respond positively to Chavez's overture, but does not expect the group to do so. He left the impression the GOC move reflects its desire to keep the initiative on a humanitarian exchange in the face of internal and international pressure. ¶6. (C) Gaviria said President Uribe will have to decide if he will authorize Chavez to meet directly with FARC leaders, but speculated he would probably allow it unless it appeared Chavez was trying to create a major propaganda event. The GOC expects Chavez will use his role to strengthen his political supporters (including Senator Cordoba and the left-wing Polo Party) inside Colombia, but the GOC is confident it can manage this. Gaviria noted in the past Chavez respected limits imposed by the GOC. ¶7. (C) Gaviria said the GOC will not sanction the FARC opening an office in Venezuela, as was recently proposed by the FARC, but would probably accept an ad hoc FARC delegation going to Venezuela to negotiate a humanitarian exchange. The GOC had already done this with the National Liberation Army (ELN) negotiators. Venezuela has been supportive of the GOC-ELN talks, refraining from political meddling but providing important logistical support. Gaviria reiterated that GOC opposition to creating a demilitarized area (despeje) in Colombia for negotiations ("despeje"). Nichols