COLOMBIA: FEEDBACK ON WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE

UNCLAS BOGOTA 006283 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KSUM KPAO CO SUBJECT: COLOMBIA: FEEDBACK ON WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE REF: SECSTATE 108659 ¶1. Per reftel, post consulted with Arnobio Cordoba Palacios of Afro-Colombian Credit, and Monsignor Hector Fabio Henao of National Pastoral Social, to solicit feedback regarding their participation in the July White House Conference on the Americas. A former mayor of Quibdo, capital of the department of Choco, Cordoba is a well-regarded Afro-Colombian leader. He is the founder and director of a foundation that provides micro-credit for Afro-Colombians. Henao is the director of a religious organization that works to reduce poverty and social disenfranchisement. ¶2. Cordoba said the conference well-organized and productive. He felt the topics were excellent and the discussions useful. He especially appreciated the chance to participate on a panel with Secretary Paulson on economic opportunities for especially vulnerable populations. Cordoba used the opportunity to discuss the challenges facing Afro-Colombians. He suggested it would be helpful if future conferences expanded on the role different USG agencies have throughout the Americas. He also said he hoped conference follow-up could contribute to building a network of key organizations. ¶3. Henao said the conference was useful in sharing perspectives on poverty and social inequality from different countries. He felt it was especially valuable to learn about the range of solutions for social problems implemented in other countries. Henao said that while the conference touched on a number of themes, it was too short to sufficiently explore them. He suggested that future conferences could have an extra day for smaller groups to discuss issues in more detail. Nichols