US embassy cable - 04BOGOTA4238

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 004238 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PINR, PREL, SNAR, CO, CODEL 
SUBJECT: CONGRESSMAN DIAZ BALART'S BOGOTA VISIT 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR WILLIAM B. WOOD, REASONS 
1.4 (B) and (D) 
 
CONFIDENTIAL 
 
SIPDIS 
 
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Summary 
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1. (U) Begin Summary.  Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart 
visited Colombia April 12-14.  He received two awards from 
the Colombian Congress; both were presented for the 
Congressman,s efforts on behalf of Colombians in the U.S. 
Diaz-Balart met with President Uribe and senior GOC 
officials.  End Summary. 
 
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President Uribe 
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2. (U) Diaz-Balart noted that his constituents and those of 
President Uribe in Florida were the same.  Uribe said he 
would be hold a &town hall8 meeting (similar to weekly 
meetings held around Colombia) in Florida in the second half 
of the year.  Diaz-Balart recommended Uribe push for 
inclusion of immigration legislation in FTA negotiations.  He 
also recommended the GOC implement a consular document 
(matricula consular) similar to  Mexico.  Uribe thanked 
Diaz-Balart and the USG for Plan Colombia support. 
 
3.(C) Uribe expressed concern regarding Venezuela.  Senate 
President German Vargas lamented that the Venezuelan 
opposition is weak and divided.  Ambassador Wood stressed the 
importance of multilateral efforts to press for the 
referendum to take place.  Uribe welcomed the visit of 
President Toledo to Colombia (septel) and praised Toledo for 
facilitating excellent bilateral cooperation.   He expressed 
surprise with Toledo,s poor domestic approval, noting that 
Peru,s economic indicators were strong. 
 
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Meeting with the MOD 
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4.(C) Minister of Defense (MOD) Jorge Alberto Uribe told 
Diaz-Balart that over the last forty years, Colombians had 
become accustomed to violence.  Towns without police and the 
inability to safely travel highways was common.  However, 
over the last year and a half, Colombia has turned a corner, 
and USG assistance has been a vital part of this change; 
police have been installed in every municipality and mayors 
increasingly govern from their towns, rather than from a 
distance.  The previous Easter week, the highways were 
packed.  Min. Uribe thanked the USG for continued commitment 
to Colombia, and expressed hope that USG assistance would 
continue at the same level.  Min. Uribe pointed out that 
contrary to prevailing international perception, Colombia 
funds approximately 87 percent of its military programs, and 
desires to be self-sufficient. 
 
5.(C) MOD Uribe said that a priority is to build the military 
capabilities required to operate effectively in remote jungle 
and border areas.  Currently, Colombia is approximately 
twenty years behind in these capabilities.  He used the Air 
Bridge Denial (ABD) program as an example of successful 
capacity-building.  Since August, when ABD was reinstituted, 
the GOC has interdicted at least thirty planes. 
 
6.(C) To illustrate the challenge Colombia faces combating 
illegal armed groups, Min. Uribe pointed out that 
southeastern Colombia is about one and one-half times the 
size of Iraq.  Although jungle terrain limits mobility, 
public security forces continue to push into these regions, 
reclaiming historically hostile territory.  To really hold 
the terrain security forces are being stationed in the field, 
rather than in towns.  Alluding to the recent spate of 
friendly fire incidents by public security forces, Uribe 
indicated that, given the high number of operations, it is 
impossible to avoid tragic mistakes, despite best efforts. 
Uribe asserted that he is addressing this problem. 
 
7.(C) Min. Uribe said that Colombia,s biggest problem is 
narcotrafficking, which is exceptionally difficult to control 
along the Brazilian and Venezuelan borders.  Uribe said that 
the GOC,s eradication program is safeguarded with strict 
controls.  No spray operation takes place without explicit 
authorization. 
 
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Activities At the Colombian Congress 
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8.(U) Diaz Balart addressed both chambers of Congress on 
April 13.  He spoke of helping immigrants in the U.S., and 
assisting allied nations like Colombia preserve democracy and 
strengthen their national security.  He lauded Colombian 
legislators for upholding democracy, welcomed their role in 
the peace process, and support for Plan Colombia. 
Diaz-Balart also had an informal lunch with twelve senators 
in which Venezuela, US-Colombia FTA, and general public 
security issues were disused.  He reaffirmed that Colombia 
has made great strides in the areas of security, 
anti-terrorism, and counter-narcotics. 
WOOD