FRENCH HOSTAGE MISSION ON HOLD DUE TO FARC \

148682 2008-04-04 22:06:00 08BOGOTA1267 Embassy Bogota CONFIDENTIAL VZCZCXYZ0000\ OO RUEHWEB\ \ DE RUEHBO #1267/01 0952206\ ZNY CCCCC ZZH\ O 042206Z APR 08\ FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA\ TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2254\ INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION IMMEDIATE 0517\ RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN IMMEDIATE 1439\ RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA IMMEDIATE 8126\ RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS IMMEDIATE 0186\ RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA IMMEDIATE 6068\ RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID IMMEDIATE 0186\ RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA IMMEDIATE 1466\ RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 1273\ RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO IMMEDIATE 6722\ RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE\ RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE\ RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE\ RHMFIUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE\ RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC IMMEDIATE\ RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE\ C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 001267 \ \ SIPDIS \ \ SIPDIS \ \ E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/04/2018 \ TAGS: PTER PREL PREF PHUM CASC FR SP CO SUBJECT: FRENCH HOSTAGE MISSION ON HOLD DUE TO FARC \ INTRANSIGENCE \ \ Classified By: Political Counselor John Creamer \ Reasons 1.4 (b and d) \ \ SUMMARY \ -------------- \ ¶1. (C) FARC spokesman Rodrigo Granda issued a statement on \ April 3 dashing hopes the FARC would release hostage Ingrid \ Betancourt. XXXXXXXXXXXX told us there \ was "no possibility" the French medical mission in Bogota \ would succeed in reaching Betancourt. He added that \ President Uribe had issued instructions to fully cooperate \ with the French, since the GOC expects the French to try to \ blame it for the mission's failure. The Spanish, one of the \ three countries authorized by the GOC to work with the FARC \ on an exchange, agree that prospects for the mission's \ success are unlikely. They predicted the French will pressure \ the GOC to accept the FARC's demand for a demilitarized zone \ (despeje) if the mission fails. End summary. \ \ FARC SAYS NO TO HOSTAGE RELEASE \ -------------- \ ¶2. (U) The FARC's unofficial "foreign minister" Rodrigo \ Granda issued a statement on April 3 saying the FARC would \ only release its hostages as part of a formal "exchange of \ prisoners," casting doubt that a French-led mission to \ provide medical care to Ingrid Betancourt will proceed. A \ French Falcon aircraft and several medical personnel arrived \ at Bogota's military airfield on April 3, promoting \ expectations that the French had an agreement with the FARC \ to treat Betancourt. Granda ruled out further FARC \ unilateral hostage releases without "more demanding" \ guarantees from the GOC. He said Ingrid and other hostages \ were in no "worse condition than Simon Trinidad or Sonia" in \ the United States. Uribe told the press on April 4 that the \ GOC may review Granda's legal status. The GOC conditionally \ released Granda from prison in June, 2007 to facilitate \ humanitarian exchange talks. \ \ GOC PESSIMISTIC \ -------------- \ ¶3. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX told us April \ 4 that there is "no possibility that the French medical \ mission will get anywhere near Ingrid." He said he had \ warned the French that the mission was risky, and that they \ should not send the planes. They insisted on doing so. \ XXXXXXXXXXXX said French President Nicolas Sarkozy's foreign \ policy advisor Jean David Levitte had accused him of \ violating Uribe's commitment to support the mission, because \ XXXXXXXXXXXX spoke directly with French negotiator Noel Saez and \ suggested that the French aircraft go to Bogota, not San Jose \ de Guaviare. The French have prohibited XXXXXXXXXXXX from \ speaking to Saez and Swiss negotiator Jean Pierre Gontard. \ XXXXXXXXXXXX said the GOC understands the French will try to \ blame the GOC for the mission's failure. Hence, Uribe's \ instructions to cooperate fully with the French. \ \ SPANISH ALSO PESSIMISTIC \ -------------- \ ¶4. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX told us on \ April 3 that the French mission was triggered by an \ unencrypted FARC message to Gontard saying Ingrid was in bad \ health and refusing to eat. The FARC were reportedly worried \ about her condition. The French government feared that if it \ did nothing after Gontard's email, it would be exposed to \ political attack at home. He added that the French had \ discussed the mission with the FARC beforehand in \ Switzerland, and received a positive response. However, \ talking with the FARC in Switzerland was not the same as \ talking with the FARC in Colombia. The French had not \ received a green light from the FARC in the field, nor had \ the FARC in Switzerland coordinated with their colleagues. \ \ ¶5. (C) Gomez said the Spanish, French, and Swiss ambassadors \ met twice with XXXXXXXXXXXX on April 3, but were only able to \ discuss a "generic" operation, since the French did not have \ any details from the FARC. He said the operation would fail \ \ unless Ingrid was truly on death's door, and the FARC decided \ to free her to avoid being blamed for her death. Gomez \ noted that if the mission fails, the French would likely \ blame the GOC since it does not hold Ingrid. Still, Gomez \ said Uribe has handled the issue well by providing the French \ complete cooperation. \ \ ¶6. (C) Gomez predicted the French will focus their efforts on \ pressuring Uribe to accept the FARC's demand for a despeje if \ the mission fails. France is set to assume the EU presidency \ in July, which will give it increased leverage. Still, he \ said France lacks the tools to put real pressure on Uribe to \ yield. France does not provide substantial aid to Colombia, \ and French commercial interests would resist efforts to \ involve business in a political dispute. \ \ BROWNFIELD \