GENERAL PETER PACE'S SEPTEMBER 13 MEETING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 007017

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR PTER PHUM CO
SUBJECT: GENERAL PETER PACE'S SEPTEMBER 13 MEETING WITH
PRESIDENT URIBE

Classified By: Ambassador William R. Brownfield
Reason: 1.4 (b,d)



1. (U) September 13, 2007, Cartagena Airport, 60 minutes


2. (U) Participants:

United States

SouthCom Commander ADM James Stavridis
Ambassador William Brownfield

Colombia

Minister of Defense Juan Manuel Santos
Military Forces Commander GEN Fredy Padilla
Army Commander GEN Mario Montoya
Navy Commander ADM Guillermo Barrera
Senator Marta Lucia Ramirez

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


3. (C) President Uribe noted to General Pace the GOC's recent
string of successes against high-level leaders of multiple
illegal armed groups, saying he hoped these would help mute
criticism of Colombia in the U.S. Congress. Uribe conveyed
his frustration with opposition to the FTA, feeling it was
partly a punishment for his and the GOC's close ties to the
Bush Administration. He highlighted the GOC's steady and
broad efforts to support of U.S. interests. Uribe expressed
skepticism of FARC intentions to negotiate peace, and vowed
to continue cooperation to free the three U.S. hostages. The
President agreed to the Ambassador's proposal to work with
Defense Minister Santos to develop new ideas to combat drugs.
Uribe thanked Pace for his support of Colombia, and said he
looked forward to GOC-USG collaboration to extend social
services to marginalized rural populations. End Summary.

--------------
COLMIL TAKEDOWNS OF CRIMINAL BOSSES
--------------


4. (C) President Uribe opened by describing the successful
recent takedown of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
(FARC) 16th front commander "Negro Acacio" and the capture of
Norte de Valle cocaine cartel head Diego Montoya. He also
noted his removal of former AUC commander "Macaco" from the
Justice and Peace Law process due to his continued
involvement in crime as well as his transfer of AUC commander
"Don Berna" to Combita maximum security prison. Uribe told
Pace he hoped to extradite Montoya, Berna, and Macaco to the
U.S. soon. He also hoped these successful operations would
have a therapeutic effect on some in the U.S. who have
criticized Colombia as they contemplated a Free Trade
Agreement (FTA). Pace congratulated Uribe on the successes
and said they demonstrated the professionalism and competence
he had come to expect from the GOC since 2000.

--------------
FRUSTRATION ON FTA
--------------


5. (C) Uribe expressed his frustration with Congressional
opposition to the FTA. The United States has no better
friend in Latin America than Colombia, he said, and he and
his Government had paid a price in their regional
relationships for being perceived as close U.S. allies. This
despite having done more to address human rights, reform the
economy, encourage investment, and attack narcotics
traffickers than any other government in Colombian history,
Uribe recognized that some of this was institutional, e.g.
from organized labor and environmental groups, and that some
Congressional districts likely have specific reasons to
oppose the FTA. Still, he felt the opposition to Colombia's
FTA also reflected, in part, punishment for being allied to
President Bush.

--------------
FARC AND MARULANDA
--------------


6. (C) General Pace assured Uribe the USG held him in the
highest esteem, with widespread appreciation for his success
in the field against narco-traffickers and illegal armed
groups. Uribe said a defeat of the FARC remained the one
gift he really wanted now from the Colombian military. He
did not believe that the FARC had any true intention of
negotiating for peace and if the Armed Forces could take down
FARC Supreme Leader Manuel Marulanda, he would conclude his
presidency a happy man.

--------------
U.S. HOSTAGES
--------------


7. (C) Pace asked Uribe not to forget the three U.S. citizens
held hostage by the FARC for the past 4.5 years as he
formulated his future strategies. Pace stressed that they
were constantly on the minds of the entire USG and the
American people. Uribe assured Pace that he would not
forget, reiterating his commitment to communicate and
cooperate with the U.S. on any intelligence or operation that
might affect the three U.S. hostages.

--------------
COUNTERNARCOTICS
--------------


8. (C) Uribe expressed some confusion over mixed signals on
the counternarcotics front. The GOC has had great success in
going after trafficking groups, as the recent high-profile
takedowns demonstrated. Interdictions of cocaine and
precursors have reached unprecedented levels. Yet reports
showed the street price of cocaine unaffected or even
falling. He asked Ambassador Brownfield what more he could
do. The Ambassador noted that counter-drug efforts were not
a static process. Traffickers constantly adapted to
government efforts against them, so the GOC and USG should
relentlessly rethink their assumptions, policies, and
programs. We should adjust to their new cultivation
techniques, their geographic moves, and their shifting
trafficking routes. The Ambassador noted that the Embassy
and Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos owed Uribe some new
ideas to consider in the coming months. Uribe offered a
positive presidential grunt.

--------------
NEW PROGRAMS
--------------


9. (C) Uribe closed by emphasizing the extraordinary
gratitude and appreciation of the entire GOC for General
Pace's support and efforts, which he hoped he could continue
to count on. The chairman assured him he could. Uribe mused
that he would soon be working with the U.S. Embassy on new
rural programs and projects. He wanted to deliver services
to communities who had been traditionally marginalized, and
help correct the mistaken impression of the GOC among some in
the U.S. Congress.


10. (U) CJCS and ADM Stavridis have cleared this message.
Brownfield