AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD'S DECEMBER 19 MEETING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 000119 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/09/2017 TAGS: KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD'S DECEMBER 19 MEETING WITH COLOMBIAN SENATE PRESIDENT NANCY GUTIERREZ Classified By: Ambassador William R. Brownfield Reason: 1.4(b,d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Senate President Nancy Patricia Gutierrez told the Ambassador there is much support for the United States and the bilateral Free Trade Agreement in the Colombian Congress. She criticized opposition party members who attack the Uribe administration and the United States, but do not offer constructive alternatives to address Colombia's problems. Gutierrez said some Colombians felt the USG was only preoccupied with its own hostages. She appreciated the institutional-building efforts made during Congressman David Price's visit in August, but encouraged more exchanges to enhance relations between the Colombian and U.S. Congress. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Senate President Nancy Patricia Gutierrez (Cambio Radical party) told the Ambassador on December 19 she would like to strengthen institutional relations, including more exchanges and visits, with the U.S. Congress. She expressed appreciation for Congressman David Price's visit to Bogota in August to fortify these efforts. Gutierrez stressed that despite opposition criticism of the United States, most Colombian legislators recognize the importance of U.S. support for Plan Colombia and want closer bilateral ties. ¶3. (C) Gutierrez judged that Senator Piedad Cordoba was using the media and political allies in Washington to put pressure on President Uribe. It would have been more appropriate if Cordoba had made her public accusations that a senior GOC officials had threatened to kill her to the Colombian Congress or security forces instead of during her visit to Washington. Gutierrez also criticized Senator Gustavo Petro (opposition Polo Democratico Alternativo party) for fanning anti-free trade and anti-Uribe flames during his trips to Washington. ¶4. (C) The Senate president said some analysts accuse the USG of only being concerned about the three Americans held by the Revoluationary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and not the Colombian hostages. The Ambassador assured her we hope for the release of all hostages, regardless of nationality. He also underscored USG acceptance of various channels to reach a humanitarian solution and viewed positively the roles played by Latin American and European leaders, as well as the Catholic Church, as long as they enjoy GOC support. The USG will continue to back GOC efforts to obtain the hostages' release. ¶5. (C) On the proposed bill regarding the legal status of 18,000 demobilized paramilitary, Gutierrez doubted it could pass in the new year, even with modifications. There was no motivation to approve it. If the GOC presents a new proposal, Congress would consider it. She said some Congress members feel uneasy about overstepping the authority of the Supreme Court and getting pulled into a legal battle between the Court and President Uribe. The bill responded to a July Supreme Court ruling which left the legal status of 18,000 rank-and-file paramilitaries in limbo. ¶6. (SBU) Gutierrez expressed concerns over language on intellectual property laws in the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), but agreed the FTA was both economically and politically important for bilateral relations. She said she would be happy to meet with visiting Congressional delegations and hoped to visit Washington in the near future. Brownfield