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
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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

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