WHA A/S SHANNON AND FM ARAUJO DISCUSS PLAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BOGOTA 000670 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2016 TAGS: PREL PHUM SNAR EC CO SUBJECT: WHA A/S SHANNON AND FM ARAUJO DISCUSS PLAN COLOMBIA, HUMAN RIGHTS, FREE TRADE, AND ECUADOR Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood Reason: 1.4 (b,d) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) In a one-hour meeting with Foreign Minister Maria Consuelo Araujo on January 29, WHA A/S Thomas Shannon welcomed the GOC's Plan Colombia consolidation proposal. Araujo said the proposal assigns new resources to human rights, social development, displaced people, and Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities. It complemented GOC efforts to seek international support from the G-24 and to open its economy through free trade deals with the U.S., Chile, and Canada. On human rights, Araujo emphasized the GOC's improved relationship with civil society, as well as with the UN Human Rights Commission, whose draft annual report for the first time recognized the GOC's human rights achievements as well as pointing out remaining challenges. Shannon told Araujo the U.S. was working to ratify FTAs with Colombia and Peru, sign and ratify the FTA with Panama, and would propose a forum to promote broader economic integration with FTA countries. On Ecuador, Araujo said the bilateral relationship was fragile, but constructive, and told Shannon she had a positive relationship with Foreign Minister Espinosa. End summary. ¶2. (U) On January 29, A/S Shannon headed a U.S. delegation to meet with FM Araujo. Shannon was accompanied by Ambassador William B. Wood, INL A/S Anne Patterson, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Mary Lee Warren, USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator Mark Silverman, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Steve Johnson, ONDCP Deputy Director SIPDIS James O'Gara, INL Office Director for the Americas Tony Arias, WHA/AND Director Phil French, Political Counselor John Creamer, and D/Polcouns (notetaker). Araujo was accompanied by her Chief of Staff, Patty Londono, Ambassador to the U.S. Carolina Barco, Colombian DCM Mariana Pacheco, and U.S. Office Director Patricia Cortes. -------------- Plan Colombia Consolidation Phase -------------- ¶3. (C) Araujo presented Shannon with a copy of the GOC's Plan Colombia consolidation phase proposal, saying it was an integral part of Colombia's approach to strengthening national security and social development. The GOC worked hard to develop the proposal following U/S Burns' October 2006 visit, and rolled it out to the diplomatic community on January 24. The proposal assigns new resources to human rights, social development, displaced people, and Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities. It aimed to help reintegrate 42,000 demobilized ex-combatants and deserters and promote Colombia's competitiveness and licit exports. Araujo said the proposal complemented GOC efforts to seek international support from the G-24 and to open its economy through free trade deals with the U.S., Chile and Canada. ¶4. (C) Shannon said the GOC proposal demonstrated Colombia was paying the vast majority of the costs of its national security and development challenges and helped correct misperceptions that the U.S. largely funded such activities. The proposal was a key step in strengthening the U.S.-Colombia strategic partnership. The proposal's heightened emphasis on social development should resonate well with the new U.S. Congress. Still, while Colombia has shown the capacity to fight against the FARC, ELN, narcotraffickers, and paramilitaries, it must also demonstrate the same determination against the new criminal groups. Shannon said Colombia must extend state presence throughout the country, including justice, health, and education, as well as security. ¶5. (C) Shannon said Secretary Rice would present the Department's budget to the Congress on February 8; the administration could not engage the Congress on Colombia's proposal prior to that date. The GOC should be prepared to provide members of Congress with a summary of the strategy as soon as the Secretary makes her presentation. It should also seek additional international support as soon as possible. Ambassador Wood said the Congress would vote on the budget in October and he underscored the need for the GOC to reach out to the Europeans as soon as possible to lobby for funding. He also urged the GOC to persuade its partners to help address Colombia's toughest security and development issues rather than focusing solely on social programs. Araujo said the GOC would reach out as widely as possible, including through the G-24, and with countries already contributing to BOGOTA 00000670 002 OF 003 ex-combatant reintegration efforts, such as Mexico, Canada, Sweden, and the UK. Uribe would also welcome a visit to Colombia by Secretary Rice. -------------- Human Rights -------------- ¶6. (C) Araujo said the GOC's relationship with human rights NGOs has significantly improved, noting the GOC's constructive relationship with UNHCHR chief Juan Pablo Corlazzoli. For the first time, the draft UNHCHR annual report noted GOC achievements as well as identifying remaining challenges. She said the report highlighted GOC successes on military criminal justice, the ILO tripartite labor accord, the protection program for human rights defenders, and the reduction in violence indicators as a result of its democratic security policy. Corlazzoli's criticism of human rights conditions carried more weight with the GOC because he recognized progress in some areas. ¶7. (C) In response to a question from Deputy Assistant Attorney General Warren, Araujo said the GOC would give more resources to the Fiscalia's Human Rights and Justice and Peace Units; U.S. training of human rights lawyers had been so effective they had been assigned to other priority tasks, such as the new Justice and Peace Unit. They needed to be replaced. Araujo emphasized President Uribe's January 26 visit to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in Costa Rica showed the GOC's respect for the Court and its decisions. Ambassador Wood raised allegations of increased extrajudicial killings and their possible relation to the military's emphasis on killing terrorists. Araujo said the GOC regarded all such allegations as serious and was addressing them. -------------- Free Trade Agreement -------------- ¶8. (C) Araujo said Uribe had urged Bolivian President Evo Morales and Ecuador's Rafael Correa to respect the GOC's decision to sign the FTA with the U.S. when he met them recently in Managua. Uribe was concerned when Correa said ATPDEA would be extended indefinitely, based on conversations he had with members of Congress. Uribe understood the desire to extend trade preferences, but FTA ratification was his goal. FTA would provide longer term investor security in Colombia. Ambassador Barco said she was optimistic on FTA ratification based on meetings with USTR, Congressman Charlie Rangel, and Senator Max Baucus, but conceded much hard work remained. Uribe would likely seek to meet with the President in March or April to advance ratification. ¶9. (C) Shannon told Araujo the administration's priority was ratification of the FTAs with Colombia and Peru, as well as the FTA with Panama. The U.S. was also considering establishing a forum of countries that had FTAs with the U.S. that would promote broader economic integration among interested countries. Araujo welcomed the idea, saying it was consistent with the GOC's vision of a Latin Pacific coast network of free trade agreements among like-minded countries. The GOC was hosting a meeting of trade ministers in Cali January 29-30 to promote this concept. Barco suggested including FTA-aspirant countries in the forum, including Caribbean states. -------------- Ecuador -------------- ¶10. (C) Shannon congratulated Araujo on the deft manner in which she, and the GOC, had managed relations with Ecuador following Correa's election. Araujo said the bilateral relationship was fragile, but constructive. The GOC saw signs Correa was moderating his campaign rhetoric. Ecuador was still close to Chavez, but appeared to be moving away from him slightly. Araujo said she could work with Ecuador's Foreign Minister Maria Fernanda Espinosa. Espinosa enjoyed Correa's trust and was more analytical than her impulsive president. Araujo told Shannon the GOC starts manual coca eradication on the border on February 1, but would not backtrack on spraying. Colombia's sovereignty was non-negotiable. ONDCP Deputy Director O'Gara thanked Araujo for the strong political will the GOC had demonstrated on fumigation. -------------- Travel Advisory -------------- BOGOTA 00000670 003 OF 003 ¶11. (C) Araujo asked when the U.S. travel advisory for Colombia would be revised. Colombia aimed to attract 3 million tourists in the next 3 years, up from 1 million today, and the travel advisory was key. Ambassador Wood said the information was in the process of being updated, and noted it had gradually changed in recent years to reflect improved security conditions. ¶12. (U) A/S Shannon approved this message. WOOD