USTR SCHWAB AND CODEL'S APRIL 6 MEETING WITH

UNCLAS BOGOTA 001320 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE PASS USTR/EISSENSTAT/CARRILLO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ELAB ETRD KJUS OVIP PGOV PREL PTER CO SUBJECT: USTR SCHWAB AND CODEL'S APRIL 6 MEETING WITH PRESIDENT URIBE -------------- SUMMARY -------------- 1.(SBU) In an April 6 breakfast meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab and an accompanying congressional delegation, President Uribe outlined Colombia's progress in combating labor violence and stated that passage of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA) will improve conditions for union members. He defended the military operation in Ecuador against Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) Commander Raul Reyes, emphasizing that prudence is required in managing the information contained on Reyes' laptop and in managing relations with his neighbors. Uribe insisted that there is no longer an organized para-military movement, and denied that the GOC has played any role in threats against those who participated in the March 6 anti-violence march. The President underscored Colombia's commitment to protecting the environment, assuring that its biofuels program does not endanger native forests or food security. END SUMMARY. -------------- PQQkC9uinted to continued progress on labor violence. There were 36 reported cases of labor violence last year out of a union population of 1.25 million. To date this year there have been 17 cases. The GOC has doubled the administrative judicial budget during the Uribe administration despite a fiscal deficit, and added two thousand new prosecutors. There were 98 sentences last year against perpetrators of homicides against labor union members, with 116 convictions and 112 criminals already in jail. ¶4. (SBU) Worker conditions have improved during his tenure, Uribe insisted. The minimum wage has outstripped inflation, and new legislation presently before Congress will correct distortions in the utilization of worker cooperatives and shQs'r)Q There is no doubt that the CTPA will improve conditions for the Colombian worker, Uribe concluded. Export sector jobs are in the formal sector, enjoy higher wages and full benefits. ¶5. (SBU) Congressman Johnson expressed concern that statements from a GOC official about the March 6 peace march being organized by the FARC had opened the door for armed groups to threaten and kill participants. The President noted that for his democratic security policy to be credible, it had to be transparent and respect human rights. With respect to the 6 reported murders of labor organizers since the march, he explained that to date the police have established no linkages between the crimes and the march. Should such a link emerge, Uribe promised a thorough investigation. He reminded the delegation that under his watch 27 members of the Colombian Congress -- many of whom were Uribe supporters -- were now behind bars. He pointed to the indictment and imprisonment of members of the armed forces for human rights violations as evidence that such charges are taken seriously in Colombia. There is no allegation of human rights violations, Uribe concluded, that his administration is not actively pursuing. -------------- THE REYES INCIDENT -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Congressman Freilinghuysen thanked the President for remaining strong in the face of Venezuelan President Chavez's threat to security and stability in the region. Uribe defended the attack across Ecuador's border that claimed the life of FARC Secretariat member Raul Reyes. He reminded the delegation that Reyes had been a main obstacle to peace during the negotiations with former President Pastrana as well as during the present conversations over a humanitarian exchange. The FARC was launching attacks against Colombian citizens and soldiers from Ecuadorian territory, and the GOC had no choice but to respond. He emphasized that the operation was carefully designed to avoid risks to civilians. ¶7. (SBU) Uribe noted that he needed to be prudent when commenting on relations with Presidents Chavez and Correa; Colombia has a strong interest in preserving quality relations with its neighbors. He explained that Interpol was pesently verifying that the Reyes computer had not been tampered with by Colombian authorities, and he expects their certification within two weeks. The GOC has delivered copies of relevant Reyes computer documents to the governments of Ecuador and Venezuela, and have not made any public. Uribe stated that Colombia will refrain from conducting any operations in neighboring territory as long as those countries do not harbor Colombian terrorist groups. -------------- RE-ARMED GROUPS -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Congressman Reichert queried Uribe about his reintegration policy and reports of re-armed paramilitary organizations. Uribe explained that under his administration the state had recovered the monopoly over combating illegal groups. There no longer are paramilitary organizations, he argued, rather newly formed groups of common criminals. Of the 30,000 demobilized paramilitary combatants, there is a recidivism rate of 5-6%. Of the resurgent groups of drug traffickers and common criminals, only 1% of the members are demobilized paramilitaries. -------------- THE ENVIRONMENT AND SMALL FARMER -------------- ¶9. (U) Congressman English noted that the CTPA contained the strongest environmental provisions ever negotiated in a trade accord. He asked Uribe about the environmental policies of his administration and the commitment to comply with international standards. The President expressed pride over Colombia's environmental regulatory system, which he called one of the strictest in the hemisphere. Fifty-one percent of the country consists of rainforest and jungle, he explained, and preservation of these resources is an administration priority. One of the greatest threats to the native forest, Uribe contended, is drug trafficking, which is responsible for the destruction of 2 million acres per year. ¶10. (U) The GOC biofuels policy, according to Uribe, is geared toward respect for the environment and preservation of food security. It is GOC policy not to touch any native forest to plant biofuels crops. Instead, they will rely upon the 17 million acres of grasslands and abandoned agricultural pastures to support the increased sugar cane and African palm production necessary to support their biofuels strategy. ¶11. (U) Congressman Johnson wondered about the CTPA's impact on the Colombian small farmer, and whether increased competition from the U.S. could drive them toward coca production. Uribe discounted that likelihood, noting that, as a tropical country, Colombia is not competitive in most grain production, and that high world commodity prices would serve as a buffer. Instead, he argued that the CTPA would encourage greater production in crops where Colombia had a comparative advantage such as coffee, cacao, palm, and forestry products. ¶12. (U) USTR Schwab has cleared this message. BROWNFIELD