MAPP/OAS RESTRUCTURING, CLOSING OFFICES IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 004323

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KJUS CO AORC
SUBJECT: MAPP/OAS RESTRUCTURING, CLOSING OFFICES IN
COLOMBIA

Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer. Reason: 1.4(b,d)


1. (C) Summary: OAS Mission in Support of the Peace
Process (MAPP/OAS) Director Sergio Caramagna briefed the
international community on MAPP'S plans to restructure its
operations, including dismissing 20 officials, naming a new
director, and combining several regional offices. MAPP will
continue to do verification work, including monitoring the
reintegration process, but will not track purely
narcotrafficking or criminal groups. Vice Foreign Minister
Adriana Mejia told us Caramagna had not consulted the GOC on
the restructuring plan, and the GOC continues to discuss the
issue with OAS officials in Washington. The GOC believes a
continued, high-profile MAPP presence should continue through
the end of the MAPP's mandate in March, 2010. End Summary.

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Change of Focus, Closing Regional Offices
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2. (U) On November 26, OAS Mission in Support of the Peace
Process (MAPP/OAS) Director Sergio Caramagna briefed the
international community on MAPP's restructuring plans for

2009. Caramagna will resign his post at the end of January
and will head the OAS office in Lima. His deputy, Claudia
Perez, will depart for Washington in mid-December. Twenty
other officials will also leave MAPP. He said that Marcelo
Alvarez, who previously served in the OAS Secretary General's
Office and has experience in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Venezuela,
will officially take over as director on January 1.


3. (U) Alvarez told us Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez fully
supports MAPP's mandate and its continued presence in
Colombia. MAPP will continue to do verification work,
focusing on the impact of the conflict on demobilized
paramilitaries, but will not monitor purely narcotrafficking
or other criminal groups. He said MAPP will focus on four
key areas: 1) disarmament of illegal armed groups,
demobilization, and monitoring of public order; 2)
reintegration of demobilized as well as recruitment by new
criminal groups; 3) Justice and Peace Law implementation; and
4) GOC attention to victims.


4. (U) Alvarez said that MAPP offices were originally
established in "paramilitary hotbeds" where there were large
paramilitary demobilizations. With demobilization now
complete, MAPP plans to restructure its regional offices to
broaden coverage on a wider range of issues. He said MAPP
will maintain its offices in Bogota, Barranquilla,
Bucaramanga, Medellin, Cali, Valledupar, and Pasto, while
closing its doors in Monteria, Cucuta, and Apartado.
Caramagna insisted that no community will be "left behind" as
a result of these closures, noting that the Medellin and
Valledupar offices would cover the areas now monitored by the
closed offices.

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GOC Not On Board
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5. (C) Vice Foreign Minister Adriana Mejia told us December
2 that Caramagna had not fully consulted with the GOC on the
restructuring plan before announcing it to the international
community on November 26. She met with OAS official Victor
Rico to convey GOC concerns that the planned cuts in staff
and regional coverage would be seen as a reduction in MAPP'S
profile in the country. The GOC believes a continued,
high-profile MAPP presence should continue through the end of
MAPP's mandate in March, 2010. Rico told her the
restructuring is an effort to rationalize the use of MAPP
resources and does not signal a loss of OAS interest in
MAPP's role. Mejia said Rico agreed to continue to discuss
the issue with the GOC.
NICHOLS