Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10BOGOTA225
2010-02-11 21:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
COLOMBIA'S CONTRIBUTION TO UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN HAITI
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHBO #0225 0422152 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 112152Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2750 INFO RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0046 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS BOGOTA 000225
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MCAP MARR SNAR ASEC EFIN KJUS KPKO HA CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA'S CONTRIBUTION TO UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN HAITI
(MINUSTAH)
REF: STATE 12558
UNCLAS BOGOTA 000225
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MCAP MARR SNAR ASEC EFIN KJUS KPKO HA CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA'S CONTRIBUTION TO UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN HAITI
(MINUSTAH)
REF: STATE 12558
1. (SBU) Per reftel, Emboffs spoke on February 11 with officials at
the Colombian Ministry of Defense (MOD) and Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MFA). These Government of Colombia (GOC) officials
confirmed that there are currently 26 Colombian police officers in
Haiti as part of MINUSTAH. The Colombian police contingent, led by
Lt. Colonel Santiago Camelo, is specialized in anti-kidnapping and
anti-narcotics.
2. (SBU) Immediately prior to the January 12 Haiti earthquake, the
GOC intended to send an additional eight police officers
specialized in border patrol and protection, but the deployment was
put on hold following the earthquake. MOD officials told us that
the U.N. had previously approved travel for these eight police
officers, and they are currently expected to deploy within the next
three to four weeks. Since arrivals into Port-au-Prince are
complicated, the GOC plans to send the eight officers on a
commercial flight through Santo Domingo. The Colombian Ambassador
to the Dominican Republic is retired General Mario Montoya, who is
dually-accredited to Haiti. Colombia does not have an EMBASSY in
Haiti.
3. (SBU) MOD officials noted that all Colombian police officers
participating in MINUSTAH arrive with the necessary training and
equipment for their deployment, and are proficient in English (only
one of the officers speaks French and none speaks Creole). The
Colombian officers are expected to deploy initially for 12 months,
but MOD officials indicated that the GOC may be willing to extend
their tours to a total of two years if possible. The GOC expects
to send additional officers to replace those whose tours expire.
MOD officials also indicated that the GOC is interested in
participating in longer-term efforts to rehabilitate the Haitian
police force, based on a GOC report dated November 2009.
4. (SBU) GOC officials told us that Ambassador Claudia Blum Capurro
de Barberi, the Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United
Nations, has been coordinating the GOC's MINUSTAH participation
with UNDPKO.
5. (U) Minimize considered.
BROWNFIELD
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MCAP MARR SNAR ASEC EFIN KJUS KPKO HA CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA'S CONTRIBUTION TO UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN HAITI
(MINUSTAH)
REF: STATE 12558
1. (SBU) Per reftel, Emboffs spoke on February 11 with officials at
the Colombian Ministry of Defense (MOD) and Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MFA). These Government of Colombia (GOC) officials
confirmed that there are currently 26 Colombian police officers in
Haiti as part of MINUSTAH. The Colombian police contingent, led by
Lt. Colonel Santiago Camelo, is specialized in anti-kidnapping and
anti-narcotics.
2. (SBU) Immediately prior to the January 12 Haiti earthquake, the
GOC intended to send an additional eight police officers
specialized in border patrol and protection, but the deployment was
put on hold following the earthquake. MOD officials told us that
the U.N. had previously approved travel for these eight police
officers, and they are currently expected to deploy within the next
three to four weeks. Since arrivals into Port-au-Prince are
complicated, the GOC plans to send the eight officers on a
commercial flight through Santo Domingo. The Colombian Ambassador
to the Dominican Republic is retired General Mario Montoya, who is
dually-accredited to Haiti. Colombia does not have an EMBASSY in
Haiti.
3. (SBU) MOD officials noted that all Colombian police officers
participating in MINUSTAH arrive with the necessary training and
equipment for their deployment, and are proficient in English (only
one of the officers speaks French and none speaks Creole). The
Colombian officers are expected to deploy initially for 12 months,
but MOD officials indicated that the GOC may be willing to extend
their tours to a total of two years if possible. The GOC expects
to send additional officers to replace those whose tours expire.
MOD officials also indicated that the GOC is interested in
participating in longer-term efforts to rehabilitate the Haitian
police force, based on a GOC report dated November 2009.
4. (SBU) GOC officials told us that Ambassador Claudia Blum Capurro
de Barberi, the Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United
Nations, has been coordinating the GOC's MINUSTAH participation
with UNDPKO.
5. (U) Minimize considered.
BROWNFIELD