DELIVERY OF LETTER ON COMMISSION-FUNDED

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 001168 SIPDIS STATE FOR INL/FO, INL/PC, EUR/ERA, L/LEI; JUSTICE FOR CRIMINAL DIVISION, OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS; DIR ONDCP FOR OSR; DEA HQS FOR OG, OGE; LA PAX FOR DCM, NAS, DEA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/2016 TAGS: KCRM PGOV PREL SNAR EUM SUBJECT: DELIVERY OF LETTER ON COMMISSION-FUNDED INITIATIVES IN BOLIVIA REF: A. PALA-MCANULTY E-MAIL OF JULY 24 ¶B. MCANULTY-MCCAMPBELL E-MAIL OF JULY 17 ¶C. MCCAMPBELL-MCANULTY E-MAIL OF JULY 15 ¶D. BRUSSELS 0117 Classified By: INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AFFAIRS (INL) COUNSELOR JAMES P. MCANULTY FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) -------------- DELIVERY OF LETTER -------------- ¶1. (C) Mission International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Counselor delivered a scanned copy of the letter signed by INL Assistant Secretary David Johnson regarding two European Commission-funded initiatives in Bolivia (REFs A to C) on July 29 to Commission Head of Unit Carel Edwards of the Drugs Coordination Unit. INL Counselor briefly mentioned U.S. concerns over recent public statements by senior Bolivian officials that contradicted U.S. and EU views on the scope of the Commission-funded study and development project in Bolivia. ¶2. (C) Edwards read the letter carefully in the presence of INL Counselor and indicated that he would forward it to the Commission Foreign Relations (RELEX) office responsible for issues involving Bolivia for a formal response. Speaking informally, Edwards said he understood U.S. concerns over the Bolivian statements and recalled a comment by a U.S. Delegation member (specifically, INL Deputy Assistant Secretary Christy McCampbell) at the recent U.S.-EU Troika Meeting on Drug Issues (REF D) noting that continued EU silence could be interpreted by Bolivian officials as assent. He sympathized with this view. Edwards (protect) remarked that Commission officials generally held a "soft" attitude towards such statements, as did technical experts involved in helping to implement the coca leaf study in Bolivia. He noted, however, that even such experts, who viewed the coca leaf issue in a largely academic fashion, have witnessed some negative developments in Bolivia, including possible pressure to skew the study's results. He remarked that U.S. concerns on this issue were also becoming EU concerns as well. ¶3. (U) INL Counselor will forward the formal EU response upon receipt. U.S. Mission notes, however, that many Commission members have started their summer vacation, which may delay completion of the formal response. -------------- COMMENTS ON OTHER DRUG ISSUES -------------- ¶4. (C) On separate drug issues, Edwards agreed with INL Counselor's observation that, with the exception of our approaches towards lack of Bolivian and Venezuelan counter-drug cooperation, the recent U.S.-EU Troika Meeting on Drug Issues had demonstrated considerable transatlantic convergence on drug issues. Edwards observed that even the Dutch, who have a reputation for leniency towards drug use, had cracked down in certain areas, including instituting checks of all passengers arriving at Schipol Airport from certain drug-producing or transit regions, such as the Caribbean, to detect individuals attempting to transport drugs into the country. Even French authorities, he averred, would be reluctant to implement such a draconian approach at their international airports. He commented that marijuana production had become an increasing problem in some European countries. Organized crime figures have infiltrated the drug business in The Netherlands, where the Dutch traditionally prided themselves on their agricultural prowess (on both legal and illicit crops). Unfortunately, ordinary citizens, particularly those with limited means, such as elderly, have experienced intense pressure to permit cultivation of marijuana in their attics. Such a trend has occasionally produced dangerous conditions, as indoor cultivation required BRUSSELS 00001168 002 OF 002 considerable electrical power and generated excessive heat, which could be detected by police patrol helicopters. Edwards noted that marijuana cultivation had also lately become quite prevalent in certain parts of France. SILVERBERG .