CATHOLIC CHURCH BEGINS EFFORT TO CONTACT FARC ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 008477

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF AR CI FR SZ VZ VE
CO
SUBJECT: CATHOLIC CHURCH BEGINS EFFORT TO CONTACT FARC ON
"ENCOUNTER ZONE" PROPOSAL

REF: BOGOTA 8405

Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) Catholic priest Dario Echeverri told us the Church
will reach out to the FARC to explain its proposal to create
an "encounter zone" for GOC talks with the FARC on a
humanitarian exchange. He said President Uribe had asked the
Church to make the proposal to deflect international pressure
over the issue in Buenos Aires, but added that Uribe had told
Monsignor Castro he was prepared to take risks to achieve an
exchange. Echeverri acknowledged that the Church's
initiative faces many challenges including internal FARC
divisions, Venezuelan President Chavez's likely opposition,
and the actions of other intermediaries. Meanwhile,
Colombian media coverage of Argentine President Cristina
Kirchner's inauguration focused on regional support for a
possible GOC humanitarian exchange with the FARC, as well as
Chavez' bitter criticism of Uribe. END SUMMARY.

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CHURCH BEGINS WORK TOWARDS EXCHANGE
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2. (C) Father Dario Echeverri told us December 10 that the
Church initiative to create an "encounter zone," announced by
President Uribe on December 7 (reftel),was orchestrated by
presidential advisor Jose Obdulio Gaviria. In a November 30
meeting at the Casa de Narino, Gaviria, Juan Mayr, Echeverri
and others discussed possible ways forward after the collapse
of the Chavez/Cordoba facilitation effort. Echeverri
suggested that Uribe return to the encounter zone proposal
(zona de encuentro) made by the Europeans in December 2005.
Gaviria later discussed the idea with Uribe, who accepted it.
The GOC then asked the Church to publicly make the proposal
its own, arguing that the FARC would reject anything proposed
by the GOC. Bishops' Conference President Monsignor Augusto
Castro agreed to do so.


3. (C) Echeverri said Uribe accepted the Church's proposal
because he realized he could not go to Buenos Aires for
Cristina Kirchner's presidential inauguration "empty handed."
The French were reaching out to Latin American and European
leaders, Chavez and Cordoba continued to talk with the
hostages' family members, and domestic pressure to achieve a
humanitarian accord was building. The encounter zone
initiative helped Uribe neutralize international pressure,
reestablish GOC control over the process, and put the ball in
the FARC's court.


4. (C) Echeverri commented that in a December 9 meeting in
Tunja with Castro, Uribe had emphasized his humanitarian
motives in urging the Church to accept this role. The
President noted he had made a calculation of the potential
political costs before accepting Chavez' help in facilitating
an exchange, but had decided in the end that the humanitarian
concerns outweighed the political risks. Uribe said he was
prepared to take risks to obtain the hostages' freedom. He
could be flexible on the size of a zone and would consider
waiving the prohibition on FARC weapons if circumstances
justified it. Echeverri said Uribe cautioned, however, that
the Church should take a low-profile approach and not seek to
involve multiple Colombian and international actors.

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PROPOSAL FACES CHALLENGES
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5. (C) Echeverri said the Church proposal faces numerous
obstacles including: 1) internal divisions within the FARC
between more "political" actors like Alfonso Cano who

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recognize that FARC kidnappings damaged its public image,
hard-liners like Mono Jojoy who favor a military approach,
and pro-Chavistas such as Ivan Marquez; 2) the likely adverse
reactions of Chavez and Senator Cordoba; and 3) the
opposition of longtime political operator Alvaro Leyva.
Echeverri said he would reach out to Cordoba--even though the
GOC would not like it--to see if she would help the Church's
effort. He would also reach out to the Vatican affiliated
San Egidio movement in Rome to see if he could
involve/control Leyva through them. Leyva has good contacts
with San Egidio.


6. (C) Echeverri outlined the Church's next steps. The 14
member Bishop's Peace Commission will meet December 13 to
discuss the initiative, and Castro will use some Commission
members to reach out to contacts within the FARC to explain
the proposal and the Church's role. Castro had requested a
meeting with Alfonso Cano three months ago, but has not
received a response. Echeverri noted that in recent years,
the Church's efforts to meet with senior FARC leaders have
been unsuccessful. He said he would also travel to Venezuela
to meet with FARC "Foreign Minister" Rodrigo Granda, and
would appeal for French and Swiss support. He had spoken with
the French Ambassador and Swiss Charge on December 9 about
the Church's initiative.

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HOSTAGES A CAUSE CELEBRE IN ARGENTINA
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7. (C) President Uribe's efforts on a possible humanitarian
exchange dominated Colombian media coverage of the December 9
inauguration of Argentine President Cristina Kirchner. In
her inaugural address, Kirchner asked that god "enlighten"
Uribe to find a solution to the hostage situation. Chilean
President Michele, Brazilian President Lula da Silva and
other Presidents offered their support for GOC efforts to
achieve an accord. In contrast, President Chavez bitterly
attacked Uribe for suspending his facilitation role, claiming
"Uribe stabbed me in the back." He said he had lost
confidence in Uribe, and warned that Venezuela's trade
relations with Colombia would suffer. Echeverri noted that
Uribe told him on December 9 that Chavez had sent a message
to Uribe two days before asking to be allowed to resume his
facilitation efforts and promising to drop his threats to
harm bilateral ties. Uribe told Echeverri and Castron that
he would not respond to Chavez' message, and reiterated that
he would not allow Chavez back into the process.

Brownfield