US embassy cable - 04BOGOTA12424

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A/S TAYLOR MEETING WITH MOD URIBE

Identifier: 04BOGOTA12424
Wikileaks: View 04BOGOTA12424 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Bogota
Created: 2004-12-06 16:51:00
Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
Tags: ASEC PGOV PTER CO
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.


 
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 012424 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2014 
TAGS: ASEC, PGOV, PTER, CO 
SUBJECT: A/S TAYLOR MEETING WITH MOD URIBE 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (U) December 1, 2004, 3:00-4:00 p.m., Ministry of Defense, 
Bogota 
 
2. (U) Participants: 
 
U.S. 
---- 
 
A/S Francis X. Taylor 
Col. Simeon Trombitas, Milgroup Commander 
Col. William Graves, Defense Attache 
Mark Hunter, RSO 
Pamela Fierst, Special Assistant 
Dana Brown, notetaker 
 
Colombia 
-------- 
Jorge Alberto Uribe Echavarria, Minister of Defense 
Jorge Eastman, Vice Minister 
 
 
3. (C) Summary: A/S Taylor congratulated Minister of Defense 
(MOD) Jorge Uribe on the significant improvements since his 
last visit in 2002 as A/S for Counterterrorism Affairs. 
Noting the reductions in the numbers of kidnappings, 
homicides, and oil pipeline attacks, Uribe vowed to "stay the 
course."  He added that Colombia had begun to offer other 
nations consultation assistance on combating terrorist 
attacks on oil pipelines, securing ports, and conducting 
counternarcotics operations. End Summary. 
 
Bilateral Assistance Reinforces Security Efforts 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
4. (C) Taylor praised Uribe on the success of the GOC's 
security programs, especially its anti-kidnapping efforts. 
His trip to the program training site only confirmed to him 
that Colombia had a well-established means of combating 
kidnappers.  He applauded the fact that crime had been on a 
downward trend over the last two years.  Uribe responded by 
stressing that bilateral assistance had been key to providing 
the resources necessary to establish Colombia's security 
programs.  He was satisfied that his Administration was on 
the correct path and promised to continue. 
 
5. (C) Taylor noted that his visit to Cartagena had given him 
the opportunity to see the civilian/police cooperation that 
helps protect the city.  He added that President Bush had 
asked for a re-evaluation of the city's risk levels after his 
November 22 visit.  In response to Vice Minister Eastman's 
question about the future of the anti-kidnapping program, 
Taylor confirmed the USG's intention to continue supporting 
it. 
 
CO Shares Expertise with Neighbors 
---------------------------------- 
 
6. (C) Uribe stressed that Colombia's expertise in addressing 
major security challenges recently had led to Colombia 
advising other countries.  For example, GOC officials had 
advised Haitians and Brazilians on ways to improve port 
security, and he mentioned plans to work with Afghanis on 
planning counternarcotics missions in 2005.  Taylor commented 
that Colombia's experience in protecting oil pipelines from 
terrorist attacks would likely be useful in Iraq and Central 
Asia. 
WOOD 

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