CHAVEZ FACES TOUGH JOB NEGOTIATING HUMANITARIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 006649

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF CO
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ FACES TOUGH JOB NEGOTIATING HUMANITARIAN
EXCHANGE WITH THE FARC

REF: BOGOTA 6520

Classified By: Ambassador William R. Brownfield - Reasons 1.4 (b and d)


1. (C) Summary. On August 31, President Uribe and
Venezuelan President Chavez discussed Chavez' efforts to
facilitate a "humanitarian exchange" of FARC-held hostages
for FARC prisoners in Colombian jails. Uribe ruled out any
demilitarized area ("despeje") or return of released
prisoners to FARC ranks. Opposition Senator Piedad Cordoba,
also authorized by Uribe to act as an intermediary with the
FARC, told us the three Americans held by the FARC should be
part of any exchange. The GOC said a possible Chavez meeting
with the FARC in the Colombian jungle was "not viable." End
summary.

Uribe Agrees to Limited Chavez Role with FARC
--------------

2. (C) On August 31, President Alvaro Uribe and Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez discussed Chavez' efforts to facilitate
a possible "humanitarian exchange" of hostages held by the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) for imprisoned
FARC members in Colombian jails. Uribe ruled out the FARC's
demand for a demilitarized zone ("despeje") to hold talks on
an accord as well as the return of any released prisoners to
FARC ranks. Far-left Colombian Liberal Party Senator Piedad
Cordoba (a staunch Chavista),who Uribe had previously
authorized to act as an intermediary with the FARC on an
exchange and who invited Chavez to participate, also attended
the Uribe-Chavez meeting.

Three Americans Part of Any Deal
--------------

3. (C) On September 7, Cordoba told DCM the three U.S.
hostages held by the FARC (Thomas Howes, Keith Stansell and
Marc Gonsalves) have to be part of any exchange. "We need to
work together," Cordoba said, "to bring all of the
hostages--including the Americans--home." Cordoba met with
South American ambassadors in Bogota and opposition Polo
Democratico Party officials to seek support. She said she
will soon brief European ambassadors, local Colombian
officials, Panamanian President Martin Torrijos, and others
on her efforts. Cordoba told us Uribe was taking a gamble by
including Chavez in the talks, and claimed she sought to
build political support for him through her outreach.


4. (C) Cordoba said she had contacted the FARC and expects
to meet with FARC representatives by September 24--though no
time or place is set. She had no idea what to expect if she
meets with them. The DCM told Cordoba the USG supported her
efforts to reach a humanitarian accord if it followed Uribe's
conditions, and reiterated that Howes, Stansell and Gonsalves
should be included in any exchange. Chavez said on in his
weekly television show on September 9 that FARC leader Manuel
Marulanda had invited him to meet in the jungles of
Colombia--something he would only do with GOC approval.
Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo said September 11
that a Chavez-FARC meeting in the Colombian jungle was "not
viable." Restrepo met for two hours with Chavez in Caracas
on September 7 to discuss the facilitation effort.


Chavez Role Limited
--------------

5. (C) Senior Uribe advisor Jose Obdulio Gaviria told us
September 7 that Uribe authorized Chavez and Cordoba to work
only on a humanitarian exchange, not a broader peace process.
Uribe thinks his public conditions will keep Chavez reined
in, and the GOC believes Cordoba and Chavez will respect the
rules of the game. Gaviria said "Uribe knows Chavez as well
as the terrain." Communications director Jorge Eastman told
us separately Chavez touched on the "despeje" issue with
Uribe on August 31, but did not push hard. Cordoba said
Uribe and Chavez also discussed a December 13, 2005, European
proposal which called for a 70 square mile zone to hold
talks. Gaviria said the GOC has no problems with Cordoba
reaching out to domestic and international leaders to seek
support for the initiative.


6. (C) Gaviria said the GOC would not accept the opening of

a FARC "office" in Caracas as part of a deal or negotiating
process. The GOC's position on the status of FARC members
"Simon Trinidad" and "Sonia" (convicted in the United States
for terrorism and drug charges, respectively) is that they no
longer fall within its jurisdiction. The two remain in U.S.
custody, and the GOC cannot obtain their return. Gaviria
confirmed that all hostages, including the three Americans,
should form part of any exchange. He said if the FARC
offered to release all hostages except for the Americans,
"it would be difficult to envision President Uribe accepting
such a deal."

Chavez "Not a Friend of the FARC"
--------------

7. (C) Gaviria told us Chavez "is not a friend of the
FARC." FARC narcotrafficking, kidnapping and other criminal
activities along the border have created problems for him.
At the same time, the FARC dislikes surrendering the
initiative to Chavez. Gaviria said Uribe doubts the FARC
will agree to an exchange in the end, because the FARC cannot
afford to release Ingrid Betancourt and other high-profile
hostages. To do so would surrender the only card that gives
the FARC relevance in Europe.
Brownfield