COUNSELOR COHEN'S DECEMBER 20 MEETING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 008651 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2017 TAGS: PGOV PINS PTER ECON CO VZ SUBJECT: COUNSELOR COHEN'S DECEMBER 20 MEETING WITH PRESIDENT URIBE Classified By: Ambassador William R. Brownfield Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) President Uribe told Counselor Eliot Cohen on December 20 of his growing concern over Venezuelan President Chavez and suggested that the USG and GOC hold "strategic consultations" on Venezuela. Uribe said the GOC's immediate priorities remain U.S. congressional approval of the Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA),defeating the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and narcotraffickers, and building social cohesion. Uribe asked Counselor Cohen for his views on Colombian counter-insurgency efforts, as well as overall impressions. Cohen noted the Colombian military's impressive efforts and believes the GOC is well on its way to winning the war against the FARC and drug traffickers. Beyond immediate issues, Cohen said the United States and Colombia should think about building their strategic relationship. End Summary. -------------- PARTICIPANTS -------------- ¶2. (U) UNITED STATES State Department Counselor Dr. Eliot Cohen Ambassador William Brownfield Military Advisor to the Counselor, Col. Steve Ganyard Special Assistant to the Counselor, Kelly Magsamen Political Officer, Elaine French (note-taker) COLOMBIA President Alvaro Uribe Minister of Foreign Affairs Fernando Araujo Minister of Defense Juan Manual Santos Reintegration Commissioner Frank Pearl Vice-Minister of Defense Juan Carlos Pinzon MFA U.S. and Canada Coordinator Patricia Cortes -------------- NEW CONCERNS OVER CTPA -------------- ¶3. (C) President Uribe expressed his thanks for President Bush's efforts to promote the CTPA, but voiced concern over the prospect that the CTPA might not gain approval by Congress in early 2008. Uribe speculated that with a change in administration in the U.S., prospects for CTPA approval might diminish further. Cohen suggested that the GOC should consider reaching out now to key staffers on presidential campaigns to educate them on the importance of CTPA to Colombia and the region. Uribe said he would consider inviting such staffers to visit Colombia before the presidential campaigns became too heated. -------------- IMPRESSIONS OF COLOMBIAN MILITARY EFFORTS -------------- ¶4. (C) Following visits to the departments of Meta, Caqueta, Valle de Cauca and Choco, Cohen highlighted the Colombian military's impressive efforts to attack high value targets (HVTs) and to consolidate gains made in areas previously held by the FARC. He noted the remarkable GOC success in promoting interagency cooperation through such mechanisms as the Center for Coordination and Integrated Action (CCAI). He added that he was also impressed that each of the military commanders he met spoke of the importance of legitimacy within their communities, human rights, and justice. Cohen said that the Colombian military must start thinking about its future role after defeating the FARC. He believed that within the region, the Colombian military far surpasses their neighbors and could prove a highly valuable partner in international peacekeeping and regional training initiatives. -------------- CALL FOR A MORE STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIP -------------- ¶5. (C) Uribe said that Colombia remains the closest ally of the U.S. in Latin America, it continues to overcome its internal problems, but needs continued U.S. support. To build public support for the U.S.-Colombian alliance, the two countries need to work together to obtain CTPA passage and to continue cooperation in counternarcotics and counterterrorism. Uribe said Colombia's future success relies on further progress in three fundamental areas: democratic security; investment confidence; and social cohesion. Cohen agreed on their importance, but said their two countries should consider building a strategic relationship that went beyond Plan Colombia. Cohen explained that he believes the U.S. could learn a lot from Colombia's successes, particularly their interagency efforts through CCAI. He suggested the need for two different kinds of dialogues; improved intelligence sharing focused on Venezuelan, as well as a senior policy dialogue. -------------- THE LOOMING THREAT NEXT DOOR -------------- ¶6. (C) Defense Minister Santos asked Cohen how the GOC should deal with the current situation with Venezuela, explaining that Chavez threatened Colombia on a number of levels, including the spread of "Bolivarian ideology" and possible material support to the FARC. Cohen said that the U.S. would eventually outlast Chavez and meanwhile avoid confrontation that would only help Chavez. Uribe responded that Colombia did not have the luxury of thinking long-term. Venezuela posed immediate security and commercial challenges for Colombia. Venezuela is one of the largest importers of Colombia's goods, and Chavez has the power to undermine the Colombian economy if he wishes. Uribe said a "strategic dialogue" with the U.S. on Venezuela, possibly in the context of the strategic framework memorandum of understanding signed last March, would prove useful. ¶7. (U) Counselor Eliot Cohen did not clear this cable. Brownfield