SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN'S REQUEST FOR EMBASSY ASSISTANCE FOR

UNCLAS BOGOTA 002105 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/AND AND L/ETHICS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OVIP MCCAIN JOHN APER ASEC CO SUBJECT: SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN'S REQUEST FOR EMBASSY ASSISTANCE FOR JULY 1-2 TRIP TO COLOMBIA REF: SECSTATE 50554 ¶1. (SBU) Summary and Action Request: Senator John McCain's Senate office informed Post on June 10, 2008 that the Senator intends to visit Cartagena, Colombia at GOC invitation from July 1-2, 2008. The office classifies the visit as a "campaign trip" not a CODEL. The Senator's office, dealing directly with the GOC on scheduling, suggested Post support in the areas of security, press, and an Embassy briefing. Post seeks approval and guidance from Washington to assist the Senator's office per reftel. End Summary and Action Request. ¶2. (SBU) Senator McCain intends to visit Cartagena, Colombia from July 1-2, 2008. The Senator's office classifies this trip as campaign related, not a CODEL, and provided the following tentative schedule: Tuesday, July 1 -------------- 1730 Wheels down Cartagena, Colombia 1900 Private dinner hosted by President Uribe with several -- members of his government Wednesday, July 2 -------------- a.m. Breakfast or meeting with the Foreign Minister a.m. Tour the Port of Cartagena and ride in a Midnight -- Express anti-drug fast boat operated by the Colombian -- Navy a.m. Press conference Noon Lunch with the US-Colombian business community 1400 Wheels up REQUESTED EMBASSY SUPPORT -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The Senator's office says it will accept whatever determinations are made by the Department of State's L/Ethics office and White House Counsel, in accordance with reftel. The Senator's office suggested Embassy support in three areas: a. Security. The United States Secret Service (USSS) provides security for the Senator. The USSS Attache in Bogota is already working with the other relevant USSS offices and detail. Security appears to fall under the exception found in paragraph 6 of reftel and could also encompass airport assistance, hotel lodging support, and transportation. EMBASSY RECOMMENDATION: The Department of State and White House authorize the Embassy to provide any support requested by the USSS related to security, including airport services, lodging, and transportation, subject to full reimbursement by the McCain Campaign. b. Press. The McCain Campaign's interest in press assistance falls into three general categories related to a press conference: identifying, inviting, and screening Colombian and international media; arranging for a press conference site; and providing equipment and operators for a press conference. Such support would require moving both personnel and equipment to Cartagena from Bogota. EMBASSY RECOMMENDATION: The Department of State and White House authorize the Embassy to provide support in screening media and obtaining a press conference site, tied to the security exception in reftel and subject to full reimbursement by McCain Campaign. The Embassy can provide equipment and operators if so authorized by the Department of State and White House, with full McCain Campaign reimbursement. c. Embassy briefing. The McCain Campaign suggests the Ambassador brief the Senator on Colombia issues at the start of the visit. President Uribe will likely invite the Ambassador to his dinner on July 1 and will state that the dinner is private in nature and limited to members of his government. EMBASSY RECOMMENDATION: The Department of State and White House authorize the Ambassador to meet the Senator on arrival in Cartagena, provide the standard CODEL briefing prior to the dinner, and accept President Uribe's invitation to the private dinner with members of his government. The Ambassador does not plan to participate in any public events beyond arrival at the airport, plans to avoid all public commentary during the visit, and does not plan to participate in any events on July 2, unless otherwise instructed. ¶4. (SBU) The Embassy would offer the same recommendations and services to the presidential campaign of any other major candidate. As we are less than three weeks away from this visit, we request Department guidance as soon as possible. BROWNFIELD