COLOMBIA OK WITH MAJORS LIST DETERMINATION FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 002977 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL SNAR UN BL CO SUBJECT: COLOMBIA OK WITH MAJORS LIST DETERMINATION FOR BOLIVIA REF: STATE 94673 Classified By: Political Counselor Mark A. Wells, Reasons 1.4 (b & d) ¶1. (C) Deputy Political Counselor delivered reftel demarche to MFA Acting Director for Multilateral Political Affairs Margarita Orozco and Director for U.S. and Canadian Affairs Adriana Maldonado on September 14. Deputy Polcouns stressed that the USG was committed to remaining engaged with Bolivia on this and other issues. Orozco and Maldonado said the GOC understands the rationale for determining that Bolivia has failed to meet its international counternarcotics obligations. Maldonado warned that a September 15 announcement could lead to discussions at the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) ministerial meeting in Quito scheduled for that same day. ¶2. (C) Orozco said that the GOC continues to be concerned by Bolivia's proposal before the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to delete the requirement to abolish coca leaf chewing from the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. As Colombia is the largest producer of coca, the GOC is concerned that this modification could lead to a proposal to eliminate coca entirely from the convention's List 1. Orozco noted that the 18-month comment period for Bolivia's proposal expires in January 2011 and that the GOC has formed an interagency committee to formulate a response. Orozco requested USG views on this, which the State Department Bolivia Desk subsequently provided. Brownfield