Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BOGOTA6520
2007-09-07 14:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
CHAVEZ OFFERS TO HOST NINTH ROUND OF ELN PEACE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHBO #6520/01 2501446 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 071446Z SEP 07 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8617 INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 9288 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ SEP 8896 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 5365 RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA PRIORITY 0598 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 5966 RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL PRIORITY 4055 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 006520
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF PREL PTER CO
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ OFFERS TO HOST NINTH ROUND OF ELN PEACE
TALKS IN CARACAS
REF: BOGOTA 5789
Classified By: Political Counselor John Creamer - Reasons 1.5 (b and d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 006520
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF PREL PTER CO
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ OFFERS TO HOST NINTH ROUND OF ELN PEACE
TALKS IN CARACAS
REF: BOGOTA 5789
Classified By: Political Counselor John Creamer - Reasons 1.5 (b and d)
1. (C) Summary. At an August 31 summit with President Uribe
in Bogota, Venezuelan President Chavez offered to host a new
round of GOC-ELN peace talks in Caracas. Uribe quickly
agreed to Chavez' offer, believing it is better to have
Chavez inside the tent rather than outside causing problems.
GOC negotiators also met with the ELN and agreed to shift the
talks to Caracas. Serious splits within the ELN over whether
to stop kidnappings and drug trafficking limit the prospects
for a peace agreement with the full ELN. End summary.
Chavez Invites ELN Talks to Caracas
===================================
2. (U) At an August 31 summit meeting hosted by President
Alvaro Uribe in the outskirts of Bogota, Venezuelan President
Hugo Chavez offered to host a ninth round of peace talks
between the GOC and National Liberation Army (ELN) in
Caracas. Chavez was in Bogota to discuss with Uribe the
specifics of his role as intermediary with the Revolutionary
Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on a humanitarian exchange.
The previous round of ELN talks ended on August 24 in Havana,
ostensibly stuck over hostages and cease fire verification
mechanisms (reftel).
GOC and ELN Accept Chavez Role
==============================
3. (C) Casa de Narino Communications Director Jorge Mario
Eastman told us Chavez made the offer to Uribe at the behest
of the ELN. He said the ELN is seeking Venezuelan
participation in the hopes Chavez would soften up GOC
positions. In a press conference following the summit,
Chavez said he "received a signal from Havana, a request for
dialogue in Caracas." Uribe accepted immediately, and gave
instructions to Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo to
participate in talks in Caracas. Eastman said Uribe felt it
was better to have Chavez inside the tent rather than causing
problems outside.
Signs of Limited Movement
=========================
4. (C) ELN peace process guarantor Moritz Akerman told us
Restrepo and ELN spokesman Francisco Galan met a day before
the Uribe-Chavez summit, and agreed to a new round of talks
-possibly in Caracas- to start as early as the week of
September 3. Akerman said the GOC also agreed to allow the
ELN to concentrate forces in four zones (Catatumbo, southern
Bolivar, Valle, and Narino),and withdrew its previous demand
that the ELN identify its members. Akerman said ELN
negotiator Pablo Beltran considered Cuba's role in the talks
unhelpful, and wanted a change. Others involved in the
process tell us the ELN was unhappy over Cuban pressure to
reach a deal. Galan and Beltran reportedly flew to Havana on
September 4-5; the media report ELN reps and GOV officials
met September 5 in Caracas in preparatory talks.
ELN Split Over Kidnapping and Drugs
===================================
5. (C) Catholic Church and Conciliation Commission
representative Father Dario Echeverri said ELN spokesman
Francisco Galan met Catholic Bishops Conference President Msg
Castro prior to the August 20-24 round of talks to seek
Church help in addressing serious internal ELN divisions.
Several ELN fronts blocked Beltran's proposal that the ELN
unilaterally renounce kidnapping, because they do not want to
give up this revenue source. Galan said he and some other
ELN leaders understand the need to take risks for peace, but
they need outside help. At Galan's urging, Castro sent
letters dated August 22 to ELN leaders Pablo Beltran and
Antonio Garcia urging them to suspend kidnapping as an
important gesture toward achieving peace.
6. (C) Echeverri and Akerman said the ELN approach to the
peace talks is complicated by the deep involvement of many
ELN fronts, especially those in Cauca and Valle de Cauca
(linked to ELN negotiator Juan Carlos Cuellar),in
narcotrafficking. They doubted Cuellar would ever accept a
peace accord. Personal rivalries between Beltran and Garcia
are another complication. Echeverri said unless ELN leaders
committed to peace are persuaded to break with the
hard-liners/criminals, there will never be a peace deal.
Akerman said Beltran thought Chavez' involvement might give
the ELN peace camp more leverage with hard-liners.
Brownfield
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF PREL PTER CO
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ OFFERS TO HOST NINTH ROUND OF ELN PEACE
TALKS IN CARACAS
REF: BOGOTA 5789
Classified By: Political Counselor John Creamer - Reasons 1.5 (b and d)
1. (C) Summary. At an August 31 summit with President Uribe
in Bogota, Venezuelan President Chavez offered to host a new
round of GOC-ELN peace talks in Caracas. Uribe quickly
agreed to Chavez' offer, believing it is better to have
Chavez inside the tent rather than outside causing problems.
GOC negotiators also met with the ELN and agreed to shift the
talks to Caracas. Serious splits within the ELN over whether
to stop kidnappings and drug trafficking limit the prospects
for a peace agreement with the full ELN. End summary.
Chavez Invites ELN Talks to Caracas
===================================
2. (U) At an August 31 summit meeting hosted by President
Alvaro Uribe in the outskirts of Bogota, Venezuelan President
Hugo Chavez offered to host a ninth round of peace talks
between the GOC and National Liberation Army (ELN) in
Caracas. Chavez was in Bogota to discuss with Uribe the
specifics of his role as intermediary with the Revolutionary
Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on a humanitarian exchange.
The previous round of ELN talks ended on August 24 in Havana,
ostensibly stuck over hostages and cease fire verification
mechanisms (reftel).
GOC and ELN Accept Chavez Role
==============================
3. (C) Casa de Narino Communications Director Jorge Mario
Eastman told us Chavez made the offer to Uribe at the behest
of the ELN. He said the ELN is seeking Venezuelan
participation in the hopes Chavez would soften up GOC
positions. In a press conference following the summit,
Chavez said he "received a signal from Havana, a request for
dialogue in Caracas." Uribe accepted immediately, and gave
instructions to Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo to
participate in talks in Caracas. Eastman said Uribe felt it
was better to have Chavez inside the tent rather than causing
problems outside.
Signs of Limited Movement
=========================
4. (C) ELN peace process guarantor Moritz Akerman told us
Restrepo and ELN spokesman Francisco Galan met a day before
the Uribe-Chavez summit, and agreed to a new round of talks
-possibly in Caracas- to start as early as the week of
September 3. Akerman said the GOC also agreed to allow the
ELN to concentrate forces in four zones (Catatumbo, southern
Bolivar, Valle, and Narino),and withdrew its previous demand
that the ELN identify its members. Akerman said ELN
negotiator Pablo Beltran considered Cuba's role in the talks
unhelpful, and wanted a change. Others involved in the
process tell us the ELN was unhappy over Cuban pressure to
reach a deal. Galan and Beltran reportedly flew to Havana on
September 4-5; the media report ELN reps and GOV officials
met September 5 in Caracas in preparatory talks.
ELN Split Over Kidnapping and Drugs
===================================
5. (C) Catholic Church and Conciliation Commission
representative Father Dario Echeverri said ELN spokesman
Francisco Galan met Catholic Bishops Conference President Msg
Castro prior to the August 20-24 round of talks to seek
Church help in addressing serious internal ELN divisions.
Several ELN fronts blocked Beltran's proposal that the ELN
unilaterally renounce kidnapping, because they do not want to
give up this revenue source. Galan said he and some other
ELN leaders understand the need to take risks for peace, but
they need outside help. At Galan's urging, Castro sent
letters dated August 22 to ELN leaders Pablo Beltran and
Antonio Garcia urging them to suspend kidnapping as an
important gesture toward achieving peace.
6. (C) Echeverri and Akerman said the ELN approach to the
peace talks is complicated by the deep involvement of many
ELN fronts, especially those in Cauca and Valle de Cauca
(linked to ELN negotiator Juan Carlos Cuellar),in
narcotrafficking. They doubted Cuellar would ever accept a
peace accord. Personal rivalries between Beltran and Garcia
are another complication. Echeverri said unless ELN leaders
committed to peace are persuaded to break with the
hard-liners/criminals, there will never be a peace deal.
Akerman said Beltran thought Chavez' involvement might give
the ELN peace camp more leverage with hard-liners.
Brownfield