Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BOGOTA1389
2008-04-14 22:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
URIBE MEETS WITH ELN'S GALAN WITH HOPE OF REVIVING
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C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 001389
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2018
TAGS: PTER PREL PREF MOPS CO
SUBJECT: URIBE MEETS WITH ELN'S GALAN WITH HOPE OF REVIVING
PEACE TALKS
Classified By: Political Counselor John Creamer
Reasons 1.4 (b and d)
SUMMARY
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 001389
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2018
TAGS: PTER PREL PREF MOPS CO
SUBJECT: URIBE MEETS WITH ELN'S GALAN WITH HOPE OF REVIVING
PEACE TALKS
Classified By: Political Counselor John Creamer
Reasons 1.4 (b and d)
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) President Uribe met with ELN member Francisco Galan at
the Narino Palace on April 3 to discuss options to revive the
ELN peace process. Peace Commissioner Restrepo told us Uribe
authorized Galan to meet with ELN leaders to try to
resuscitate the peace process and reiterated GOC support for
Galan's House of Peace (Casa de Paz) in Medellin. Restrepo
said Galan publicly renounced violence before the meeting but
not his ELN membership--something that suited all parties.
Still, Restrepo cautioned that serious internal divisions
remain in the ELN, and the GOC does not expect the
Uribe-Galan meeting to lead to immediate progress. The ELN
announced that it has rescinded Galan's title as ELN
spokesman, but said it respected his political views. End
summary.
GALAN MEETS WITH URIBE
--------------
2. (C) The ELN's Francisco Galan met with President Uribe on
April 3 in Narino Palace to discuss options to revive GOC-ELN
peace talks. Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo told us
the meeting was productive, and showed the GOC is interested
in peace. Uribe authorized Galan to meet with the ELN's
Central Committee (COCE) and to tell them that Uribe was
ready to meet with them to discuss alternative peace
formulas. Uribe also agreed to support the House of Peace in
Medellin (where Galan lives and works) and to allow
international support for the House. The GOC and Galan also
agreed to broaden membership in the House, as well as the
group of peace process "guarantors" to make them more
representative. Restrepo prohibited European countries--who
provided the initial funding to the Peace House--from
providing additional funds in March 2007 in an effort to
pressure the ELN to reach a cease-fire accord.
3 (C) Restrepo noted that Galan reiterated his renunciation
of violence, but not his ELN membership--something that
suited both the GOC and the ELN. The key problem is that
Galan has no mandate from the COCE to negotiate with the GOC.
Moreover, the ELN remains plagued by internal divisions.
Restrepo said there are some signs the ELN (and FARC) may
have become somewhat disenchanted with Venezuelan President
Hugo Chavez, but it is unclear what this will mean in
practice. Presidential advisor Jose Obdulio Gaviria
downplayed Uribe's meeting with Galan, claiming the ELN will
never be ready to conclude a peace deal with the GOC.
Norwegian Charge d' Affairs in Bogota Dag Nylander told us
the European will not rush to fund the House of Peace, and
will wait for Restrepo to request support. Nylander said
there is no point in Euro involvement in the internal
struggles within the ELN.
4. (C) Peace talks guarantor Moritz Akerman said Galan
emerged from the Palace optimistic over prospects for
reviving talks. Akerman said Galan entered the meeting with
two goals: 1) to convince the GOC to not make the
identification and concentration of all ELN forces a
condition for a base peace accord, and 2) to obtain Uribe,s
authorization for Galan to meet with ELN chief "Gabino" and
number two Antionio Garcia (in coordination with Restrepo) to
brief them on the Uribe meeting and to push for a base
accord. Akerman said Galan expects to hold more meetings
with the GOC. Galan intends to use the meeting's results to
start on a "work plan" to advance a mini peace process in
Narino Department as well as a resumption of the GOC-ELN
peace talks.
OUT AS ELN SPOKESMAN--BUT STILL IN ELN
--------------
5. (U) After Galan's meeting with Uribe, the ELN issued a
communique suspending Galan's status as ELN spokesman and as
a member of the ELN delegation to the peace process. The
COCE stated that Galan's views did not coincide with ELN
positions, but added that, despite the differences, the ELN
would continue to "seek peace in conjunction" with Galan.
Galan said he had a recent "conciliatory" email exchange with
COCE members Pablo Beltran and Antiono Garcia, and claimed to
have the support of jailed ELN general staff member Juan
Carlos Cuellar for his meeting. Still, Galan's role in a
negotiation process remains unclear. The COCE repeatedly
repudiated positions taken by Galan when he was their
spokesman in previous GOC-ELN talks.
BROWNFIELD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2018
TAGS: PTER PREL PREF MOPS CO
SUBJECT: URIBE MEETS WITH ELN'S GALAN WITH HOPE OF REVIVING
PEACE TALKS
Classified By: Political Counselor John Creamer
Reasons 1.4 (b and d)
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) President Uribe met with ELN member Francisco Galan at
the Narino Palace on April 3 to discuss options to revive the
ELN peace process. Peace Commissioner Restrepo told us Uribe
authorized Galan to meet with ELN leaders to try to
resuscitate the peace process and reiterated GOC support for
Galan's House of Peace (Casa de Paz) in Medellin. Restrepo
said Galan publicly renounced violence before the meeting but
not his ELN membership--something that suited all parties.
Still, Restrepo cautioned that serious internal divisions
remain in the ELN, and the GOC does not expect the
Uribe-Galan meeting to lead to immediate progress. The ELN
announced that it has rescinded Galan's title as ELN
spokesman, but said it respected his political views. End
summary.
GALAN MEETS WITH URIBE
--------------
2. (C) The ELN's Francisco Galan met with President Uribe on
April 3 in Narino Palace to discuss options to revive GOC-ELN
peace talks. Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo told us
the meeting was productive, and showed the GOC is interested
in peace. Uribe authorized Galan to meet with the ELN's
Central Committee (COCE) and to tell them that Uribe was
ready to meet with them to discuss alternative peace
formulas. Uribe also agreed to support the House of Peace in
Medellin (where Galan lives and works) and to allow
international support for the House. The GOC and Galan also
agreed to broaden membership in the House, as well as the
group of peace process "guarantors" to make them more
representative. Restrepo prohibited European countries--who
provided the initial funding to the Peace House--from
providing additional funds in March 2007 in an effort to
pressure the ELN to reach a cease-fire accord.
3 (C) Restrepo noted that Galan reiterated his renunciation
of violence, but not his ELN membership--something that
suited both the GOC and the ELN. The key problem is that
Galan has no mandate from the COCE to negotiate with the GOC.
Moreover, the ELN remains plagued by internal divisions.
Restrepo said there are some signs the ELN (and FARC) may
have become somewhat disenchanted with Venezuelan President
Hugo Chavez, but it is unclear what this will mean in
practice. Presidential advisor Jose Obdulio Gaviria
downplayed Uribe's meeting with Galan, claiming the ELN will
never be ready to conclude a peace deal with the GOC.
Norwegian Charge d' Affairs in Bogota Dag Nylander told us
the European will not rush to fund the House of Peace, and
will wait for Restrepo to request support. Nylander said
there is no point in Euro involvement in the internal
struggles within the ELN.
4. (C) Peace talks guarantor Moritz Akerman said Galan
emerged from the Palace optimistic over prospects for
reviving talks. Akerman said Galan entered the meeting with
two goals: 1) to convince the GOC to not make the
identification and concentration of all ELN forces a
condition for a base peace accord, and 2) to obtain Uribe,s
authorization for Galan to meet with ELN chief "Gabino" and
number two Antionio Garcia (in coordination with Restrepo) to
brief them on the Uribe meeting and to push for a base
accord. Akerman said Galan expects to hold more meetings
with the GOC. Galan intends to use the meeting's results to
start on a "work plan" to advance a mini peace process in
Narino Department as well as a resumption of the GOC-ELN
peace talks.
OUT AS ELN SPOKESMAN--BUT STILL IN ELN
--------------
5. (U) After Galan's meeting with Uribe, the ELN issued a
communique suspending Galan's status as ELN spokesman and as
a member of the ELN delegation to the peace process. The
COCE stated that Galan's views did not coincide with ELN
positions, but added that, despite the differences, the ELN
would continue to "seek peace in conjunction" with Galan.
Galan said he had a recent "conciliatory" email exchange with
COCE members Pablo Beltran and Antiono Garcia, and claimed to
have the support of jailed ELN general staff member Juan
Carlos Cuellar for his meeting. Still, Galan's role in a
negotiation process remains unclear. The COCE repeatedly
repudiated positions taken by Galan when he was their
spokesman in previous GOC-ELN talks.
BROWNFIELD