Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BERLIN991
2008-07-22 15:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Berlin
Cable title:
DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTRY ON
how-toVZCZCXRO3417 RR RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHRL #0991 2041522 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 221522Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1728 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 0244 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0129 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 0103 RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0037
C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000991
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2018
TAGS: COL VE HR EUR PTER AF SNAR PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTRY ON
FARC
REF: SECSTATE 77205
Classified By: DEPUTY MINISTER COUNSELOR STAN OTTO FOR REASONS 1.4 (b),
(c),AND (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000991
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2018
TAGS: COL VE HR EUR PTER AF SNAR PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTRY ON
FARC
REF: SECSTATE 77205
Classified By: DEPUTY MINISTER COUNSELOR STAN OTTO FOR REASONS 1.4 (b),
(c),AND (d)
1. (C) On 22 July 2008, POLOFF delivered reftel demarche to
Verana Frick, desk officer responsible for Venezuela,
Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia at the German Foreign Office.
Frick said that the German Government will continue to
support dialogue and a peaceful solution between the
Government of Columbia and the FARC. Frick remained hopeful
that a diplomatic solution could be achieved where FARC
members could be reintegrated into society, although she does
not believe complete amnesty should be given to all members.
She expressed the view that the FARC is weakened and no
longer has a political or ideological agenda, but is now
mostly concerned with ensuring its own survival and earning
money through drug trafficking. She said that most of the
prisoners being held by the FARC were not for political
reasons, but rather simple ransom, making the FARC more of a
criminal syndicate than international terrorist organization.
Frick speculated that the FARC will inevitably collapse
internally and branch into small, albeit more dangerous and
unpredictable, splinter groups.
2. (C) Frick said the German Government took Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez at his word when he denounced the
FARC's armed struggle, and does not believe he has anything
further to gain politically by publicly or privately
supporting the group. She believes Chavez knows his
political limitations and now realizes his revolutionary
message is no longer being accepted in Latin America. She
cited the recent tension between Venezuela and Ecuador and
Columbia, and the cooling of relations with Brazil and
Bolivia, as evidence that Chavez's revolutionary zeal had
lost its appeal and that he is becoming increasingly isolated
in the region. She added that despite Chavez's
alleged past support for the FARC, Germany does not believe
there is ample evidence or reason to add Venezuela to the
list of states that sponsor terrorism. Frick expressed the
view that doing so would empower Chavez and provide him
reason to withhold or restrict oil exports to the United
States and Europe.
KOENIG
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2018
TAGS: COL VE HR EUR PTER AF SNAR PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTRY ON
FARC
REF: SECSTATE 77205
Classified By: DEPUTY MINISTER COUNSELOR STAN OTTO FOR REASONS 1.4 (b),
(c),AND (d)
1. (C) On 22 July 2008, POLOFF delivered reftel demarche to
Verana Frick, desk officer responsible for Venezuela,
Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia at the German Foreign Office.
Frick said that the German Government will continue to
support dialogue and a peaceful solution between the
Government of Columbia and the FARC. Frick remained hopeful
that a diplomatic solution could be achieved where FARC
members could be reintegrated into society, although she does
not believe complete amnesty should be given to all members.
She expressed the view that the FARC is weakened and no
longer has a political or ideological agenda, but is now
mostly concerned with ensuring its own survival and earning
money through drug trafficking. She said that most of the
prisoners being held by the FARC were not for political
reasons, but rather simple ransom, making the FARC more of a
criminal syndicate than international terrorist organization.
Frick speculated that the FARC will inevitably collapse
internally and branch into small, albeit more dangerous and
unpredictable, splinter groups.
2. (C) Frick said the German Government took Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez at his word when he denounced the
FARC's armed struggle, and does not believe he has anything
further to gain politically by publicly or privately
supporting the group. She believes Chavez knows his
political limitations and now realizes his revolutionary
message is no longer being accepted in Latin America. She
cited the recent tension between Venezuela and Ecuador and
Columbia, and the cooling of relations with Brazil and
Bolivia, as evidence that Chavez's revolutionary zeal had
lost its appeal and that he is becoming increasingly isolated
in the region. She added that despite Chavez's
alleged past support for the FARC, Germany does not believe
there is ample evidence or reason to add Venezuela to the
list of states that sponsor terrorism. Frick expressed the
view that doing so would empower Chavez and provide him
reason to withhold or restrict oil exports to the United
States and Europe.
KOENIG