AMBASSADOR'S OCTOBER 1 MEETING WITH FOREIGN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 007234

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2017
TAGS: ECON PGOV PHUM PINR PREL PTER UNSC VZ CO
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S OCTOBER 1 MEETING WITH FOREIGN
MINISTER ARAUJO

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


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SUMMARY
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1. (C) The Ambassador reiterated to Foreign Minister Araujo
on October 1 our commitment to obtaining U.S. congressional
approval of the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and said
we will need continued GOC support for the congressional
delegations that will likely visit Colombia in the coming
months. He noted that we publicly support facilitation
efforts on a humanitarian accord with the Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia (FARC),but view President Chavez'
intentions with skepticism. Araujo said that the GOC
strongly supports U.S. congressional visits to Colombia, and
promised his full assistance. He questioned the FARC's
intentions in talks on a humanitarian accord, and agreed the
USG and GOC need to coordinate on this issue. Araujo
reviewed GOC plans for the November 29-30 Group of 24 meeting
in Bogota, and reiterated GOC concerns over its inclusion in
Annex II of UN Security Council Resolution 1612. End Summary


2. (U) The Ambassador met October 1 with Foreign Minister
Fernando Araujo for an introductory call and to review recent
developments. Vice Foreign Ministers Camilo Reyes and
Adriana Mejia, and the Director of the Foreign Ministry's
Office of United States and Canadian Affairs Patricia Cortes
accompanied Araujo. The DCM and Polcouns accompanied the
Ambassador.

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UNGA MEETING
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3. (C) Foreign Minister Araujo briefed the Ambassador on his
events at UNGA. He met President Bush at the presidential
reception, and felt encouraged by the President's commitment
to keep pushing for U.S. congressional approval of the
bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA). He voiced appreciation
for his inclusion in an informal dinner hosted by the
Secretary with selected other foreign ministers, and said the

SIPDIS
multilateral meeting on Colombia led by U/S Burns provided a
useful opportunity to explain GOC policies to the Europeans.
Araujo found the Europeans supportive of the GOC's policies,
noting that he had a similar experience during his recent
trip there. Even the European media appeared to have "an
objective understanding of the Colombian reality."

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FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
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4. (C) The Ambassador said we continue to work to achieve
congressional approval of the FTA. He thanked Araujo for
the GOC's excellent support of the numerous congressional
delegations that have visited Colombia over the last two
months. We expect additional visits in the months ahead, and
will ask for continued GOC assistance. Araujo said that the
GOC would do everything possible to make the visits a
success. Vice Foreign Minister Mejia added that President
Uribe invited House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Ways and
Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel to visit Colombia
during his trip to New York.

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PRESIDENT CHAVEZ AND THE HUMANITARIAN ACCORD
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5. (C) The Ambassador noted that we publicly support all
efforts to facilitate release of the hostages, including by
Venezuelan President Chavez and Senator Piedad, but suspect
neither shares the best interests of the USG or the GOC. If
Chavez were to obtain the freedom of the other hostages
without including the three U.S. citizens or if he were to
orchestrate events to blame the USG or the GOC for the
collapse of the facilitation effort, he would regard these as
acceptable outcomes. We need to work with the GOC to ensure
that the FARC and Chavez take the blame should the FARC not
release the hostages.


6. (C) Araujo reiterated the GOC's insistence that the FARC
include the three U.S. citizens in any humanitarian deal, and

said President Uribe does not support the return of FARC
terrorists Simon Trinidad and Sonia from the United States.
The FARC wants to use talks on an accord to gain
international political status and to undermine the GOC.
Araujo noted that during his time in FARC captivity, FARC
leaders showed little concern for humanitarian
issues*refusing to provide proof of life because they
preferred to use the hostage' families' desperation to
pressure the GOC. He agreed on the need to coordinate
closely with the USG, but encouraged the USG kept its public
comments on the issue to a minimum. The FARC would use any
public U.S. statements to torpedo the process.


7. (C) Araujo said he met with Congressman William Delahunt
in New York and advised caution in participating in a
meeting with Chavez and the FARC. The Ambassador said
Congressman James McGovern wrote to Senator Cordoba that he
would attend such a meeting only if the FARC provided proof
of life for the hostages. He agreed that the USG should
limit public comments, but cautioned that sometimes we would
need to speak out on our own hostages.

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GROUP OF 24 (G-24) MEETING
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8. (C) The Ambassador asked about the GOC's plans and
objectives for the November 29-30 G-24 meeting in Bogota.
Araujo said the Bogota meeting is part of the
London-Cartagena process, and will provide a forum for the
GOC, international community, and civil society to discuss
priorities, concerns and strategies to address Colombia's
challenges. Mejia explained that November 29 would provide
civil society an opportunity to meet with the international
community with the GOC participating as a guest. The GOC
would host the next day's events, which would largely consist
of government to government discussions. Mejia said the
event would close with the issuance of a political
declaration that the GOC currently has under negotiation with
G-24 members.

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UN RESOLUTION 1612 AND CHILD SOLDIERS
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9. (C) Araujo said the GOC remains interested in being
removed from Annex II of United Nations Security Council
Resolution 1612 on children in armed conflict. The
Ambassador said he understood the GOC's concerns, but noted
we would find it difficult to remove the GOC from the list.
Still, he agreed to forward the GOC's request to the
Department, with a recommendation that we try to meet as many
GOC concerns as possible.
Brownfield