URIBE ACCEPTS "ENCOUNTER ZONE" FOR HUMANITARIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 008405 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2017 TAGS: PGOV PTER PREL PREF PHUM VZ FR CO SUBJECT: URIBE ACCEPTS "ENCOUNTER ZONE" FOR HUMANITARIAN EXCHANGE - AND OFFERS USD 100 MILLION FOR FARC MEMBERS THAT LIBERATE HOSTAGES REF: BOGOTA 8332 Classified By: CDA Brian A. Nichols Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- Uribe Offers "Encounter Zone" -------------- ¶1. (U) President Alvaro Uribe announced on December 7, that the GOC would accept a Catholic Church proposal to create a small "zona de encuentro" (encounterzone) toseek a "humanitarian exchange" of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)-held hostages for FARC prisoners in Colombian jails. The GOC previously accepted a similar European proposal in December, 2005, which the FARC later rejected. Uribe said the zone would need to be approximately 150 square kilometers in size, in a sparsely populated rural area and have no existing police or military installations. Unarmed international observers would preside in order to "define" the terms of the exchange. FARC fighters would not be allowed into the area. Uribe authorized Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo, working with the Church, to seek contact with the FARC to find a location for the zone. ¶2. (C) Presidential advisor Jose ObdulioGaviria told us the GOC would appreciate U.S. support for the encounter zone proposal, at least in conversations in Bogota or with third countries. He added that the GOC would not accept a return of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez or Senator Piedad Cordoba to the exchange process, noting that pressure on the GOC to do so had diminished. -------------- Low GOC Expectations for French -------------- ¶3. (C) Gaviria also told us the GOC would continue talking with the French on the hostage issue, but remained worried that the French will pressure the GOC rather than the FARC (reftel). French DCM in Bogota Alain Fort separately confirmed that Uribe never offered French President Nicolas Sarkozy a mediator role, and details of possible French involvement remained unclear. Fort said Peace Commissioner Restrepo made his December 4 announcement that he would travel to Paris for consultations with the GOF without consulting the GOF. Hence, the GOF deferred the visit for "scheduling reasons." Fort also said that Sarkozy did not coordinate his letters to FARC leader Manuel Marulanda with the GOC; the GOF did give the GOC copies before releasing them publicly. -------------- USD 100 Million for Hostages -------------- ¶4. (U) President Uribe also announced on December 7, that the Ministry of Defense had identified USD 100 million to "stimulate the demobilization" of FARC members who liberate hostages. FARC members willing to turn over their hostages and reintegrate into society would receive payment from the fund depending on case specifics. Uribe previously announced that FARC members willing to demobilize and turn over hostages would receive benefits under the Justice and Peace Law. Nichols =======================CABLE ENDS============================