UNASUR SUMMIT: NO CONSENSUS ON U.S.-COLOMBIAN DCA

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000715 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: TWENTY YEARS TAGS: PREL AORC ECIN MARR EC CO XM XR SUBJECT: UNASUR SUMMIT: NO CONSENSUS ON U.S.-COLOMBIAN DCA REF: QUITO 703 Classified By: Ambassador Heather M. Hodg... id: 220492 date: 8/12/2009 16:15 refid: 09QUITO715 origin: Embassy Quito classification: CONFIDENTIAL destination: 09QUITO703 header: VZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHQT #0715/01 2241615 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 121615Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY QUITO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0745 INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 0323 RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 8307 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 4249 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 0823 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 3675 RUEHGE/AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN 0222 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ AUG LIMA 3357 RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 2249 RUEHPO/AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO 0069 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 3103 RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL 4550 RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL -------------- header ends -------------- C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000715 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: TWENTY YEARS TAGS: PREL AORC ECIN MARR EC CO XM XR SUBJECT: UNASUR SUMMIT: NO CONSENSUS ON U.S.-COLOMBIAN DCA REF: QUITO 703 Classified By: Ambassador Heather M. Hodges for Reasons 1.4 (b&d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Several presidents from the region condemned the U.S.-Colombia Defense Cooperation Agreement at the ceremony where President Bachelet transferred the rotating presidency of UNASUR to President Correa (reftel). Presidents Chavez and Correa claimed that U.S. military presence at Colombian bases constituted a "provocation." President Lula and Fernandez calmed the discussion -- Lula calling for a UNASUR meeting with President Obama and another with Colombia at the table, and Fernandez offering to host a meeting of UNASUR presidents on the subject in Buenos Aires. The Declaration of Quito by UNASUR ministers did not include text condemning U.S. military presence in Colombia, but did call for an immediate ministerial meeting, scheduled for August 24 in Quito. END SUMMARY. CHAVEZ SETS THE TONE ¶2. (C) Following the signing of the Declaration of Quito transferring the rotating Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) presidency to Ecuador, and initial remarks by Bachelet and Correa, presidents from the region expressed their disapproval or unease over plans for the U.S.-Colombia Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA). Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez started the discussion referring to his "moral obligation" to call attention to Colombia's decision to allow the "installation of U.S. bases in Colombian territory." Chavez asserted that Venezuela felt threatened, calling the March 1, 2008, Colombian bombing of a FARC camp in Ecuadorian territory a precursor (to future Colombian action) and complaining that Colombia justified its extraterritorial attack as a preemptive strike. He claimed that statements by the Israeli Foreign Minister to certain UNASUR countries that Venezuela supported Hezbollah was part of this "provocation." He warned that the "winds of war had begun to blow" and that this was the beginning of a "tragedy" in the region. ¶3. (C) President Correa concurred with Chavez' remarks, saying that the decision to allow the presence of U.S. bases in Colombia "could destabilize the region." He argued that Ecuador was the country most affected because it had "suffered seven years of fumigations, bombings, and displaced persons" as a result of Colombia's "civil war." Increasingly agitated, Correa said that Ecuador's neighbor to the north had problems with guerrillas, "narco-politics," "para-politics," narcotrafficking, and drug cultivation. He continued that "in addition to this, putting foreign military bases in Colombia is not only a danger to the region, but also a provocation." Correa called for a meeting of UNASUR members to discuss the issue. CALL FOR A PRESIDENTIAL MEETING ¶4. (C) Following the harsh words by Chavez and Correa, Brazilian President Lula da Silva defused somewhat the tense atmosphere by suggesting that UNASUR conduct a dialogue on the issue that would include all those concerned. He proposed that UNASUR invite the USG to an "in-depth discussion" regarding its relations with the region. Looking to Correa, he added, "Remember that meeting in Trinidad and Tobago, (when President Barack) Obama requested a meeting with UNASUR, and wasn't it a beautiful meeting?" Lula explained that a meeting of UNASUR presidents could determine the correct position on the issue. Lula also suggested that it would be very important to hear the views of Colombian Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez and Defense Minister Santos regarding a U.S. presence in Colombia, saying that "this will only be resolved with dialogue and debate, speaking the truth; and people will have to hear things they don't like... We need to agree on the future of UNASUR." ¶5. (C) Argentine President Cristina Fernandez echoed the call for a presidential meeting, saying that the defense ministers would not be able to resolve the issue. She added that the "problem is not military...rather political...and only the presidents can resolve it." She suggested that such a meeting be held in a location that would not have any perception of hostility, such as (exists) in Ecuador or Venezuela, to avoid any excuses." Correa interjected that the meeting should be held in Buenos Aires, which Fernandez agreed to. COLOMBIA FIGHTS BACK ¶6. (SBU) Uribe did not attend the UNASUR meeting or President Correa's inauguration; Colombia was represented by its Vice Foreign Minister Clemencia Forero. At the meeting, Forero clarified for those present at the UNASUR meeting that the military bases in dispute were Colombian. She asserted that Colombia had no intention of allowing the U.S. to establish military bases in Colombia, nor had the U.S. any intention of doing so. She suggested that any future meeting of UNASUR to discuss the issue include a dialogue on all the other military agreements of member countries within the region, as well as the autonomy of each country's decisions. (Note: Due to difficulties with his plane, Garcia arrived late, attending only the luncheon offered by President Correa. End Note.) NO FORMAL CONDEMNATION ¶7. (U) The resulting text of the UNASUR meeting, the Declaration of Quito, did not include a condemnation of U.S. military presence in Colombia, but did require that the UNASUR ministers of foreign affairs and defense meet within a month; the meeting is planned for August 24 in Quito. An MFA official bulletin detailed the primary accords of the text: approval of the Declaration of the Heads of State of UNASUR; creation of three South American Councils: 1) Infrastructure and Planning, 2) Education, Culture, Science, Technology and Innovation, and 3) Social Development; and approval of a statement on the Falkland Islands. The Declaration also called for the formation within 120 days of an Investment Working Group that would evaluate the possibility of an advisory center for disputes between governments and investors. COMMENT ¶8. (C) While the GOE's rhetoric on the U.S.-Colombia DCA had been more restrained than Venezuela's, President Correa followed Chavez' lead in harshly denouncing it at the UNASUR meeting. Correa reiterated much of the same rhetoric from the UNASUR meeting in his inauguration speech and appearance before the Ecuadorian public at a local stadium later the same day. Lula's suggestion of a UNASUR meeting with President Obama was not answered by the rest of the UNASUR participants in the meeting. Misperceptions and political agendas appear to have driven much of the commentary by the press and the region's more leftist leaders on this issue. While those with political motives will likely continue attacking Colombia and the U.S., a unified and persistent USG message, as well as continued one-on-one engagement, could help resolve misperceptions by the GOE and the press. HODGES =======================CABLE ENDS============================