Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BOGOTA7281
2007-10-10 16:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
GOC-GOV TENSIONS EMERGE AS HUMANITARIAN EXCHANGE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 007281
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER VZ CO
SUBJECT: GOC-GOV TENSIONS EMERGE AS HUMANITARIAN EXCHANGE
PROCESS IS DELAYED
Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
-------
SUMMARY
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 007281
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER VZ CO
SUBJECT: GOC-GOV TENSIONS EMERGE AS HUMANITARIAN EXCHANGE
PROCESS IS DELAYED
Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) President Chavez urged the GOC to facilitate, not
block, GOV efforts to meet with FARC leaders in Venezuela.
The GOC responded by warning the international community not
to "fall for the deception of terrorism." Long-time FARC
intermediary Alvaro Leyva said Uribe's decision to involve
Chavez was a mistake that would help "Chavistas" in
Colombia's October local elections. He claimed Chavez has
forced Uribe to repeatedly expand his list of non-negotiable
conditions, thereby making Uribe appear as the obstacle to a
deal in the eyes of many Europeans. END SUMMARY.
--------------
CHAVEZ: GIVE FARC A PLANE AND COFFEE
--------------
2. (U) During his weekly "Alo Presidente" show on October 7,
Venezuelan President Chavez said the GOC "should facilitate,
not block" his humanitarian exchange efforts. Chavez
suggested that President Uribe provide FARC leader Manuel
Marulanda with a GOC aircraft to travel to Venezuela for
talks. Chavez said, "Marulanda: I am waiting for you on the
border, but Uribe you have to help me. Uribe, give him a
plane, and put him on the border where I will be with coffee
and everything." Exchange facilitator Senator Piedad Cordoba
announced on October 8 that she expects a Chavez-FARC meeting
to be delayed by at least a month.
--------------
GOC'S REMINDER: FARC = TERRORIST
--------------
3. (U) The GOC responded to Chavez with a statement from the
presidential palace urging the international community "not
to fall for the deception of terrorism." Vice President
Santos told the press Chavez and the other facilitators
should show "prudence." He pointed out that FARC terrorists
are responsible for the murder of "an infinite number of
Colombians" and should not be "received with a nice coffee"
by Colombia's neighbors. GOC Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos
Restrepo traveled to Caracas October 7 to lay the groundwork
for the Uribe-Chavez meeting in La Guajira on October 12.
--------------
LEYVA EXPECTS CHAVEZ FAILURE
--------------
4. (C) Former minister and (now) sidelined FARC intermediary
Alvaro Leyva told us October 6 that Uribe's involvement with
Chavez was a huge mistake. Uribe believed he could control
Chavez by publicly outlining his "non-negotiable" points
("inamovibles"). If the FARC released the hostages on
Uribe's terms, he would be the winner. If the effort failed,
he could blame Chavez and the FARC. Leyva said Uribe had
underestimated Chavez, who has repeatedly forced Uribe to
expand his list of non-negotiable items, thereby casting him
as the obstacle to a deal. He said Uribe's statement
rejecting the return of "Sonia" and "Simon Trinidad" was an
error. Uribe should have left the issue to the USG.
5. (C) Leyva claimed Chavez no longer believed a humanitarian
exchange is possible. Instead, Chavez' goal is to ensure
Uribe takes the blame for the failed facilitation effort, not
hard given Uribe's growing number of "inamovibles." He
claimed the Spaniards, French and Swiss feel poorly treated
by the GOC for their facilitation efforts, and will be
inclined to blame Uribe for any failure. Many Europeans
already think Uribe does not want an exchange. The collapse
of the facilitation effort will strengthen Chavez who has
used it to build a personal relationship with French
President Sarkozy. Leyva said the local perception is that
even the USG has moved closer to Venezuela because of Chavez'
facilitation effort.
--------------
PERSPECTIVE ON FARC
--------------
6. (C) The FARC would be happy with a collapse of the
exchange process, Leyva said, especially if Uribe received
the blame. He was skeptical the FARC would meet with Chavez
in Caracas, asserting that the FARC does not trust the
Venezuelan President. For that matter, "they don't trust
their own shadows." The FARC were willing to exploit Chavez'
initiative to gain political space, but never felt
comfortable with the process. Leftist columnist Leon
Valencia agreed the FARC leaders were unlikely to meet
outside of Colombia. FARC leaders do not think in
geo-political terms, and are focused on their personal
security and fighting the GOC.
--------------
BOOST FOR CHAVISTAS IN COLOMBIA
--------------
7. (C) Leyva claimed Uribe's acceptance of Chavez as mediator
has given an important boost to Chavez' supporters in
Colombia in the run up to October local elections. He
expects Chavez' sympathizers to do well in small
municipalities, especially in the North Coast and border
departments. This is dangerous because it advances Chavez'
"bottom-up" approach to building a political movement in
Colombia.
Brownfield
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER VZ CO
SUBJECT: GOC-GOV TENSIONS EMERGE AS HUMANITARIAN EXCHANGE
PROCESS IS DELAYED
Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) President Chavez urged the GOC to facilitate, not
block, GOV efforts to meet with FARC leaders in Venezuela.
The GOC responded by warning the international community not
to "fall for the deception of terrorism." Long-time FARC
intermediary Alvaro Leyva said Uribe's decision to involve
Chavez was a mistake that would help "Chavistas" in
Colombia's October local elections. He claimed Chavez has
forced Uribe to repeatedly expand his list of non-negotiable
conditions, thereby making Uribe appear as the obstacle to a
deal in the eyes of many Europeans. END SUMMARY.
--------------
CHAVEZ: GIVE FARC A PLANE AND COFFEE
--------------
2. (U) During his weekly "Alo Presidente" show on October 7,
Venezuelan President Chavez said the GOC "should facilitate,
not block" his humanitarian exchange efforts. Chavez
suggested that President Uribe provide FARC leader Manuel
Marulanda with a GOC aircraft to travel to Venezuela for
talks. Chavez said, "Marulanda: I am waiting for you on the
border, but Uribe you have to help me. Uribe, give him a
plane, and put him on the border where I will be with coffee
and everything." Exchange facilitator Senator Piedad Cordoba
announced on October 8 that she expects a Chavez-FARC meeting
to be delayed by at least a month.
--------------
GOC'S REMINDER: FARC = TERRORIST
--------------
3. (U) The GOC responded to Chavez with a statement from the
presidential palace urging the international community "not
to fall for the deception of terrorism." Vice President
Santos told the press Chavez and the other facilitators
should show "prudence." He pointed out that FARC terrorists
are responsible for the murder of "an infinite number of
Colombians" and should not be "received with a nice coffee"
by Colombia's neighbors. GOC Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos
Restrepo traveled to Caracas October 7 to lay the groundwork
for the Uribe-Chavez meeting in La Guajira on October 12.
--------------
LEYVA EXPECTS CHAVEZ FAILURE
--------------
4. (C) Former minister and (now) sidelined FARC intermediary
Alvaro Leyva told us October 6 that Uribe's involvement with
Chavez was a huge mistake. Uribe believed he could control
Chavez by publicly outlining his "non-negotiable" points
("inamovibles"). If the FARC released the hostages on
Uribe's terms, he would be the winner. If the effort failed,
he could blame Chavez and the FARC. Leyva said Uribe had
underestimated Chavez, who has repeatedly forced Uribe to
expand his list of non-negotiable items, thereby casting him
as the obstacle to a deal. He said Uribe's statement
rejecting the return of "Sonia" and "Simon Trinidad" was an
error. Uribe should have left the issue to the USG.
5. (C) Leyva claimed Chavez no longer believed a humanitarian
exchange is possible. Instead, Chavez' goal is to ensure
Uribe takes the blame for the failed facilitation effort, not
hard given Uribe's growing number of "inamovibles." He
claimed the Spaniards, French and Swiss feel poorly treated
by the GOC for their facilitation efforts, and will be
inclined to blame Uribe for any failure. Many Europeans
already think Uribe does not want an exchange. The collapse
of the facilitation effort will strengthen Chavez who has
used it to build a personal relationship with French
President Sarkozy. Leyva said the local perception is that
even the USG has moved closer to Venezuela because of Chavez'
facilitation effort.
--------------
PERSPECTIVE ON FARC
--------------
6. (C) The FARC would be happy with a collapse of the
exchange process, Leyva said, especially if Uribe received
the blame. He was skeptical the FARC would meet with Chavez
in Caracas, asserting that the FARC does not trust the
Venezuelan President. For that matter, "they don't trust
their own shadows." The FARC were willing to exploit Chavez'
initiative to gain political space, but never felt
comfortable with the process. Leftist columnist Leon
Valencia agreed the FARC leaders were unlikely to meet
outside of Colombia. FARC leaders do not think in
geo-political terms, and are focused on their personal
security and fighting the GOC.
--------------
BOOST FOR CHAVISTAS IN COLOMBIA
--------------
7. (C) Leyva claimed Uribe's acceptance of Chavez as mediator
has given an important boost to Chavez' supporters in
Colombia in the run up to October local elections. He
expects Chavez' sympathizers to do well in small
municipalities, especially in the North Coast and border
departments. This is dangerous because it advances Chavez'
"bottom-up" approach to building a political movement in
Colombia.
Brownfield