DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE'S JUNE 1 MEETING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 002054

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2018
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL PTER EC CO
SUBJECT: DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE'S JUNE 1 MEETING WITH
PRESIDENT URIBE

Classified By: Ambassador William R. Brownfield
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

SUMMARY
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1. (C) President Alvaro Uribe told Deputy Secretary
Negroponte on June 1 that he appreciated President Bush's
efforts to obtain congressional passage of the Colombian
Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA) at a bi-lateral meeting
during the Organization of American States (OAS) General
Assembly meeting in Medellin, Colombia. He voiced concern
the CTPA would die if it were considered by Congress in a
lame duck session. Uribe said Colombia is the leader among
countries in opposing President Chavez' "Bolivarian
Revolution," noting that high oil prices give Chavez
substantial leverage in the region. The Deputy underscored
U.S. efforts to improve regional relations and support,
especially with Brazil. Uribe reiterated the GOC's
commitment to improving relations with Ecuador, but noted
that Ecuador must stop allowing terrorists to operate on its
territory. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) Participants:

U.S.:
--------------

Deputy Secretary John D. Negroponte
Ambassador William R. Brownfield
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Craig A. Kelly
U.S. Permanent Representative to the OAS Hector E. Morales
Mary Sue Conaway, D Staff
Kelly Hapka Carrillo, notetaker

Colombian:
--------------

President Alvaro Uribe
Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo
Colombian Permanent Representative to the OAS Camilo Ospina
Vice Foreign Minister Camilo Reyes
Alicia Arango, Senior Adviser to the President
Patricia Cortes, MFA


3. (C) Uribe was visibly tired from staying up the previous
night responding to a serious, fatal mudslide in Medellin.
The Deputy reviewed the status of the CTPA, saying any clear
timeline was unlikely due to the change in congressional
rules. President Uribe thought the overall result of sending
the CTPA to the Congress was positive as it: 1) gave
Colombia the most positive U.S. press and visibility in
history, 2) sparked public debate, and 3) required undecided
Congressmen to explain their positions. He was thankful for
the personal letter from President Bush last week, and his
frequent public comments supporting approval of the Colombian
CTPA.


4. (C) Uribe noted the transformation in Medellin as
symbolic of the Colombian success story. He suggested that
when he was Mayor 15 years earlier, security would not have
permitted them to meet there in central Medellin. He voiced
concern about attempting to pass the CTPA during the lame
duck session, noting that this would be risky. Uribe said if
the CTPA were rejected, the next Colombian presidential
candidates might look for "other strategic partners" in the
region. The Deputy Secretary raised ongoing human rights and
labor criticisms by civil society groups against the GOC.
Uribe said the union movement in Colombia was "highly
ideologized" which added to the complexity of how to best
address the labor violence issue.


5. (C) The Deputy Secretary underscored U.S. efforts to
improve regional relations, especially with Brazil. Uribe
noted that Colombia remains the leader among countries that
act as a hemispheric counterweight to the "Bolivarian
Revolution." Other like-minded countries such as Brazil,
Mexico, Chile, Peru, and most of Central America may lend
quiet support but have chosen not to take public stands. He
said Colombia stood alone in rejecting Brazil's South
American Security Council Initiative. Uribe commented that
the biggest constraint on countries opposed to Chavez'
"Bolivarian Revolution" is the power afforded Venezuela by
high oil prices. Uribe stated he wants to increase petroleum
exploration projects and explore alternatives such as African

palm oil and sugar cane, adding that foreign investment would
be imperative in these areas.


6. (C) Uribe said he wants to have a "friendly, calm and
honest" conversation with Ecuador to resolve ongoing tensions
after Colombia's March 1 cross-border operation. He only
asks one thing from Ecuador: stop allowing terrorists to
operate on their soil. Uribe added that the GOC has
confirmed that two specific Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia (FARC) insurgents are operating in Ecuador, but said
Colombia would raise this issue privately with the
Ecuadorians.


7. (SBU) As the meeting concluded, Ambassador Brownfield
encouraged the Foreign Minister to recognize Kosovo's
independence. He also sought GOC support for the U.S.
candidate to lead the International Organization on Migration
(IOM) Director General. FM Araujo said he understood the
issues, and promised final decisions soon.


8. (U) Cleared by D staff.
BROWNFIELD