Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BOGOTA483
2009-02-17 21:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
STEADY PROGRESS ACHIEVED IN FIRST ROUND OF
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHBO #0483 0482136 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 172136Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7032 INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 8650 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 1672 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 7005 RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA PRIORITY 3028 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 7713 RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFIUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 000483
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PTER MOPS MCAP MARR CO
SUBJECT: STEADY PROGRESS ACHIEVED IN FIRST ROUND OF
COLOMBIA DCA NEGOTIATIONS
REF: A. 2008 BOGOTA 4083
B. 2008 SECSTATE 128033
C. BOGOTA 0383
Classified By: Political Counselor John Creamer
Reasons 1.4 (b and d)
SUMMARY
--------
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 000483
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PTER MOPS MCAP MARR CO
SUBJECT: STEADY PROGRESS ACHIEVED IN FIRST ROUND OF
COLOMBIA DCA NEGOTIATIONS
REF: A. 2008 BOGOTA 4083
B. 2008 SECSTATE 128033
C. BOGOTA 0383
Classified By: Political Counselor John Creamer
Reasons 1.4 (b and d)
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) U.S. and Colombian delegations made steady progress
in the first round of negotiations on a defense cooperation
agreement (DCA). Citing regional tensions, the Colombian
delegation attempted to include U.S. security guarantees in
the text of the agreement, but later agreed to discuss these
concerns in a separate forum. The Colombian officials said
most of their proposed changes to the text were designed to
curb any public perception that the GOC was ceding
sovereignty to the United States under the DCA, and to avoid
the need for ratification by Colombia's congress. End
summary.
2. (C) U.S. and Colombian delegations convened in Bogota on
February 10-12 for the first round of negotiations on the
DCA. Deputy Foreign Minister Clemencia Forero, Deputy
Defense Minister Juan Pinzon and Deputy Defense Minister
Sergio Jaramillo led the Colombian delegation. PM Senior
Advisor Ambassador Jackson McDonald headed the U.S. team
consisting of State and DOD representatives (from PM, L/PM,
JCS, OSD, SOUTHCOM, and U.S. Embassy Bogota).
SECURITY GUARANTEES: A SEPARATE DISCUSSION
--------------
3. (C) The first day the Colombian delegation reiterated that
the word "base" should be avoided and that the DCA should be
completely "de-linked" from the Manta, Ecuador closure. The
Colombians also pressed to include express provisions on USG
security guarantees and support for an integrated air defense
system in exchange for the underlying access rights. The
Colombian delegation eventually agreed to address these two
issues in separate exchanges with the USG outside of the DCA
negotiations. The remainder of the plenary negotiations saw
slow but steady progress, establishing bracketed text on the
preamble, definitions, access rights, payment of fees,
respect for national laws, criminal jurisdiction, and
privileges and immunities.
KEY CONCERNS: PUBLIC PERCEPTION, SOVEREIGNTY
--------------
4. (C) During the negotiations, the Colombian delegation
repeatedly expressed concern about how the DCA would be
perceived by the Colombian public and by neighboring
countries, especially Venezuela. Vice Defense Minister
Sergio Jaramillo explained that many of the GOC's proposed
edits to the draft text (such as provisions on access and
jurisdiction) were designed to curb any public perception
that Colombia was ceding sovereignty to the United States
under the DCA. Both Forero and Jaramillo emphasized that the
DCA must be linked to the existing framework and authorities
under earlier bilateral and multi-lateral agreements, since
any new "stand-alone" provisions could be subject to
challenge by Colombia's constitutional court or
Congress--steps the GOC wants to avoid.
NEXT STEPS
--------------
5. (C) In a February 12 meeting, President Uribe told
Ambassador Brownfield that he wished to conclude the DCA as
soon as possible. As the first round concluded, both sides
agreed the next plenary should place on March 12-13, preceded
on March 10-11 by technical negotiations on issues such as
criminal jurisdiction and access rights to
commercially-managed airports and seaports.
6. (U) This cable was reviewed by Ambassador McDonald.
BROWNFIELD
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PTER MOPS MCAP MARR CO
SUBJECT: STEADY PROGRESS ACHIEVED IN FIRST ROUND OF
COLOMBIA DCA NEGOTIATIONS
REF: A. 2008 BOGOTA 4083
B. 2008 SECSTATE 128033
C. BOGOTA 0383
Classified By: Political Counselor John Creamer
Reasons 1.4 (b and d)
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) U.S. and Colombian delegations made steady progress
in the first round of negotiations on a defense cooperation
agreement (DCA). Citing regional tensions, the Colombian
delegation attempted to include U.S. security guarantees in
the text of the agreement, but later agreed to discuss these
concerns in a separate forum. The Colombian officials said
most of their proposed changes to the text were designed to
curb any public perception that the GOC was ceding
sovereignty to the United States under the DCA, and to avoid
the need for ratification by Colombia's congress. End
summary.
2. (C) U.S. and Colombian delegations convened in Bogota on
February 10-12 for the first round of negotiations on the
DCA. Deputy Foreign Minister Clemencia Forero, Deputy
Defense Minister Juan Pinzon and Deputy Defense Minister
Sergio Jaramillo led the Colombian delegation. PM Senior
Advisor Ambassador Jackson McDonald headed the U.S. team
consisting of State and DOD representatives (from PM, L/PM,
JCS, OSD, SOUTHCOM, and U.S. Embassy Bogota).
SECURITY GUARANTEES: A SEPARATE DISCUSSION
--------------
3. (C) The first day the Colombian delegation reiterated that
the word "base" should be avoided and that the DCA should be
completely "de-linked" from the Manta, Ecuador closure. The
Colombians also pressed to include express provisions on USG
security guarantees and support for an integrated air defense
system in exchange for the underlying access rights. The
Colombian delegation eventually agreed to address these two
issues in separate exchanges with the USG outside of the DCA
negotiations. The remainder of the plenary negotiations saw
slow but steady progress, establishing bracketed text on the
preamble, definitions, access rights, payment of fees,
respect for national laws, criminal jurisdiction, and
privileges and immunities.
KEY CONCERNS: PUBLIC PERCEPTION, SOVEREIGNTY
--------------
4. (C) During the negotiations, the Colombian delegation
repeatedly expressed concern about how the DCA would be
perceived by the Colombian public and by neighboring
countries, especially Venezuela. Vice Defense Minister
Sergio Jaramillo explained that many of the GOC's proposed
edits to the draft text (such as provisions on access and
jurisdiction) were designed to curb any public perception
that Colombia was ceding sovereignty to the United States
under the DCA. Both Forero and Jaramillo emphasized that the
DCA must be linked to the existing framework and authorities
under earlier bilateral and multi-lateral agreements, since
any new "stand-alone" provisions could be subject to
challenge by Colombia's constitutional court or
Congress--steps the GOC wants to avoid.
NEXT STEPS
--------------
5. (C) In a February 12 meeting, President Uribe told
Ambassador Brownfield that he wished to conclude the DCA as
soon as possible. As the first round concluded, both sides
agreed the next plenary should place on March 12-13, preceded
on March 10-11 by technical negotiations on issues such as
criminal jurisdiction and access rights to
commercially-managed airports and seaports.
6. (U) This cable was reviewed by Ambassador McDonald.
BROWNFIELD