RESPONSE TO COLOMBIAN OFFER OF ASSISTANCE FOR

UNCLAS STATE 104192 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL SNAR AF CO SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO COLOMBIAN OFFER OF ASSISTANCE FOR AFGHANISTAN COUNTERNARCOTICS POLICE REF: BOGOTA 3066 ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please pass to NAS/Bogota. Please see paragraph three. ¶2. (U) Reftel requested instructions from Department on responding to an offer of assistance from the Colombian National Police (CNP) to help train the Counternarcotics Police of Afghanistan's Narcotics Interdiction Unit (NIU) as a continuation of previous INL-sponsored CNP training efforts in Afghanistan in 2005-2007. ¶3. (U) The Department continues to review this offer of assistance with relevant interagency authorities, and requests that Post convey the following message to CNP interlocutors: BEGIN TALKING POINTS: - Please accept our sincere appreciation for your offer to help train the Government of Afghanistan's Narcotics Interdiction Unit. - The United States shares Colombia's commitment to helping the Government of Afghanistan combat the scourge of narcotics in order to provide security to the Afghan people and reestablish governance and economic opportunity. - As you may be aware, the United States is reviewing its counternarcotics strategy in Afghanistan. - As we evaluate the current needs of the Counternarcotics Police of Afghanistan (CNPA),we request that the Government of Colombia provide additional information regarding its intended offer of assistance, specifically with regard to the duration and content of the instructional curriculum that the Colombian National Police's Anti-Narcotics Directorate would intend to provide, as well as biographic details regarding suggested officials from the Government of Colombia that would provide training to the CNPA. - At that time, we look forward to reviewing the proposed training opportunity suggested by the Government of Colombia based on the needs of the CNPA, and in turn, provide a more detailed response. END TALKING POINTS. ¶4. (SBU) The Department appreciates Post's attention to these requests. CLINTON