Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BOGOTA7319
2007-10-10 23:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
PROS/CONS OF SECRETARY GUTIERREZ' DELEGATION VISIT
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHBO #7319 2832349 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 102349Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA IMMEDIATE 7791 RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO IMMEDIATE 2228 RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC IMMEDIATE INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9425
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 007319
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR CLAIR BUCHAN SECRETARY GUTIERREZ' CHIEF OF STAFF
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2017
TAGS: CO
SUBJECT: PROS/CONS OF SECRETARY GUTIERREZ' DELEGATION VISIT
TO BOJAYA, COLOMBIA
Classified By: Ambassador William R. Brownfield: reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 007319
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR CLAIR BUCHAN SECRETARY GUTIERREZ' CHIEF OF STAFF
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2017
TAGS: CO
SUBJECT: PROS/CONS OF SECRETARY GUTIERREZ' DELEGATION VISIT
TO BOJAYA, COLOMBIA
Classified By: Ambassador William R. Brownfield: reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
1. (SBU) EMBASSY Bogota proposes visit by Secretary of
Commerce Gutierrez and delegation to the village of Bojaya on
October 13. The delegation would accompany President Uribe.
Pros and cons of such a trip follow.
2. (SBU) The trip to Bojaya presents certain risks: health
risks, the risk associated with flying on foreign government
assets and weather. In consideration that the proposed visit
involves a Cabinet level employee and members of Congress,
post believes that Washington should be informed of these
risks.
3. (U)) The information regarding the health risks
associated with jungle travel has been provided to Washington
via email. This information will be shared during a briefing
of congressional staff on October 10 at 2pm.
4. (C) The risk of flying to these specific sites and in a
hostile environment with unpredicted weather is significant.
This risk can best be mitigated by using the most experienced
pilots/personnel in Colombia, those attached to NAS. The
flying risk will be somewhat mitigated by the short duration
of the flight (12 minutes from Quibdo to Bojaya). Post
assumes that the Government of Colombia will make its best
air assets available since President Uribe is making this
trip. Post has requested that all USG personnel and members
of the traveling party be placed on either the President,s
Bell 412 helicopter or the NAS Blackhawk. As the party
requires additional air assets for transport, give the above
considerations, post requests special airlift mission
assistance from the Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS).
5. (C) Post has put in place a plan to mitigate the weather
risk. This plan is to abort the trip if the pilots determine
that the landing conditions are not adequate in Quibdo.
Quibdo is a visual runway only; an instrument landing is not
possible. In that case, the President,s plane will return
to Medellin and hold for a maximum of 1.5 hours to allow the
conditions to improve. If the weather conditions change
while in Quibdo/Bojaya, the plan is to cut the trip short and
return to Medellin immediately.
Brownfield
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR CLAIR BUCHAN SECRETARY GUTIERREZ' CHIEF OF STAFF
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2017
TAGS: CO
SUBJECT: PROS/CONS OF SECRETARY GUTIERREZ' DELEGATION VISIT
TO BOJAYA, COLOMBIA
Classified By: Ambassador William R. Brownfield: reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
1. (SBU) EMBASSY Bogota proposes visit by Secretary of
Commerce Gutierrez and delegation to the village of Bojaya on
October 13. The delegation would accompany President Uribe.
Pros and cons of such a trip follow.
2. (SBU) The trip to Bojaya presents certain risks: health
risks, the risk associated with flying on foreign government
assets and weather. In consideration that the proposed visit
involves a Cabinet level employee and members of Congress,
post believes that Washington should be informed of these
risks.
3. (U)) The information regarding the health risks
associated with jungle travel has been provided to Washington
via email. This information will be shared during a briefing
of congressional staff on October 10 at 2pm.
4. (C) The risk of flying to these specific sites and in a
hostile environment with unpredicted weather is significant.
This risk can best be mitigated by using the most experienced
pilots/personnel in Colombia, those attached to NAS. The
flying risk will be somewhat mitigated by the short duration
of the flight (12 minutes from Quibdo to Bojaya). Post
assumes that the Government of Colombia will make its best
air assets available since President Uribe is making this
trip. Post has requested that all USG personnel and members
of the traveling party be placed on either the President,s
Bell 412 helicopter or the NAS Blackhawk. As the party
requires additional air assets for transport, give the above
considerations, post requests special airlift mission
assistance from the Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS).
5. (C) Post has put in place a plan to mitigate the weather
risk. This plan is to abort the trip if the pilots determine
that the landing conditions are not adequate in Quibdo.
Quibdo is a visual runway only; an instrument landing is not
possible. In that case, the President,s plane will return
to Medellin and hold for a maximum of 1.5 hours to allow the
conditions to improve. If the weather conditions change
while in Quibdo/Bojaya, the plan is to cut the trip short and
return to Medellin immediately.
Brownfield