DEMARCHE ON KEEPING PRESSURE ON THE FARC DELIVERED

C O N F I D E N T I A L MONTEVIDEO 000432 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2018 TAGS: PTER SNAR PREL CO UY SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON KEEPING PRESSURE ON THE FARC DELIVERED REF: STATE 77205 Classified By: DCM Robin Matthewman; Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) DCM delivered reftel demarche to Ambassador Nelson Fernandez, Secretary General of the MFA on July 23. Fernandez did not offer an immediate response (preferring to discuss the issue with FM Gonzalo Fernandez) but confirmed that the GOU was interested in avoiding a situation in Colombia where there are perceived winners and losers, preferring instead to contribute to balance and peace in the region. To this end, the GOU believes the less intervention from those not directly involved, the better (he mentioned France as an example). Fernandez urged care in dealing with the FARC, to avoid its splintering the group into those ready to negotiate and others who choose to keep fighting. He also said Uruguay will continue to work to improve relations between Colombia and Ecuador, as it did at during the June OAS summit in Medellin. ¶2. (C) COMMENT: We do not expect the GOU to be forthcoming on condemnation of the FARC unless there is a strong joint movement to do so among its Mercosur neighbors. As the GOU looks to shoring up its political base in advance of the 2009 Presidential elections, the Vazquez government will likely feel that open condemnation of the FARC is a bridge too far. Baxter