CHAVEZ'S PLAN AND URIBE'S BURDEN TO RECOVER

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 002398

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

USSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER CO VE
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ'S PLAN AND URIBE'S BURDEN TO RECOVER
HOSTAGES

REF: BOGOTA 8657

Classified By: Robert Downes, Political Counselor,
for Reason 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: President Hugo Chavez outlined a plan
designed to secure the release of three hostages of the
Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) in a December 26
press conference. The plan calls for the participation of
international observers from Venezuela and six other
countries and the use of an "air caravan", but is contingent
on elements outlined in a letter to Colombian President
Uribe. Throughout the briefing and subsequent Q&A, Chavez
made it clear that he was trying to put the burden on the
government of Colombia (GOC) to make the release happen. The
Colombians quickly approved Chavez' plan with minor changes.
According to local media, the mission will occur on December

28. End Summary.


2. (SBU) At a December 26 press conference, Hugo Chavez
claimed on December 23 the FARC had told him hostages Clara
Rojas, her son Emmanuel Rojas and Consuelo Gonzalez were
ready to be handed over to Venezuelan authorities.
Expounding on a series of telephone dialogues with FARC
leaders and consultations with his mentor, Cuban President
Fidel Castro, Chavez announced that his Vice Foreign Minister
Rodolfo Sanz had delivered a plan to President Uribe in
Bogota. Chavez also detailed his telephone diplomacy to
French President Sarkozy and five Latin American leaders
through which he said he had won a pledge from each of an
observer to a team headed by his former Minister of Justice
and Interior Ramon Chacin. The countries and observers are
as follows: France - Ambassador Hadelin de La Tour-du-Pin,
Cuba - Ambassador German Sanchez Otero, Brazil - presidential
advisor Marcos Aurelio Garcia, Argentina - former president
Nestor Kirchner, Bolivia and Ecuador had not yet named their
members.


3. (SBU) Explaining that he wanted the process to be
public and transparent, Chavez promised copies of his letter
to Uribe to the media and detailed that, upon approval from
the GOC, an "air caravan" consisting of helicopters and fixed
wing aircraft - carrying the international observers and the
media - would leave from one of four designated airfields,
fly into Colombia and return to Venezuela with the three
hostages.


4. (SBU) Throughout the briefing, Chavez was careful about
predicting the success of the operation, stressing the need
for GOC approval as well as pointing out possible
complications from weather, the mountainous jungle terrain,
the fact they were flying into a war zone and the inherent
dangers of mounting a rescue operation.


5. (SBU) The media reported that the Colombians quickly
approve the plan, appointing Peace Commissioner Dr. Luis
Carlos Restrepo (Reftel) as the GOC point of contact. The
GOC also added the condition that any aircraft participating
in the mission show the red cross emblem of the ICRC.
Venezuelan media reported that Pablo Rondon, Venezuela's
ambassador to Colombia, announced the operation would happen
on December 28.

DUDDY