US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA4146

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BOGOTA 004146 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, SNAR, ETRD, CO 
SUBJECT: CODEL BURTON MEETING WITH PRESIDENT URIBE 
 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR WILLIAM B. WOOD FOR REASONS 1.5 (B&D) 
 
 1.  (C) Summary:  During a working lunch with CODEL Burton, 
President Uribe discussed the successes his government has 
achieved in security, economics, and the fight against 
narco-terrorists.  He outlined broad, short-term goals in 
support of his current policies related to demobilization, 
drug eradication, and Colombia,s position on the FTA.  Both 
parties discussed concerns over the uncertainty of Ecuador,s 
political situation.  The CODEL expressed strong support for 
President Uribe,s policies.  Uribe began the meeting in 
front of the press, asking the Minister of Environment to 
comment on when the aerial eradication of coca would begin in 
Colombia,s national parks. End Summary. 
 
2.  (U) On April 22, President Uribe hosted a working lunch 
in Baranquilla for the members of CODEL Burton: Vice Chairman 
of the Western Hemisphere Sub-Committee of the House 
International Relations Committee Jerry Weller of Illinois, 
Jim Moran of Virginia, Henry Cuellar of Texas, Ron Lewis of 
Kentucky, Kenny Marchant of Texas, Joe Wilson or South 
Carolina, and Darryl Issa of California (Chairman Dan Burton 
and Representative Hinchey joined the CODEL on April 23). 
The delegation expressed bipartisan support for Plan Colombia 
and praised President Uribe,s leadership in the fight 
against drugs and terrorism.  For his part, President Uribe 
told the delegation that he is proud that the U.S. is 
Colombia,s &great ally8 and he thanked the Members for 
their support. 
 
3.  (C)  In addition to discussing bilateral issues, the 
Congressional delegation expressed concern over the situation 
in Ecuador.  President Uribe said he shared their concern and 
was waiting for the OAS report to give a "hint of legality" 
to the change of government.  Uribe said President Lula had 
called to say he had agreed to grant Gutierrez asylum in 
Brazil.  Uribe added that he had not taken a call from former 
president Gutierrez earlier in the day, but would be phoning 
the former president after lunch with the delegation.  Uribe 
said the situation appeared to be stable and that any new 
Ecuadorian government must begin with stability.  Uribe said 
the U.S. should reach out to the new government on issues 
such as the FTA and the election of next OAS Secretary 
General. 
 
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Great Strides on Security/Peace Process 
--------------------------------------- 
 
4.  (C) President Uribe began the lunch by checking off a 
long list of his administration's accomplishments to improve 
national security throughout Colombia.  Noting that he had 
been the target of two terrorist acts in Baranquilla during 
his presidential campaign, Uribe said crime in the city had 
declined 60 percent.  He added that there have been no 
terrorist attacks in Bogot in over two years, and no 
kidnappings in the capital over the same period of time. 
Uribe said homicides in Medellin declined 34 percent in his 
first year in office, 42 percent his second, and 50 percent 
in his current third year. 
 
5.  (C) Uribe told the delegation it is not easy to defeat 
50,000 terrorists funded by illicit drug money.  With 
determination, however, Uribe said he was confident Colombia 
will win.  He noted that under his administration, 12,000 
combatants have been taken off the battlefield ) 6000 
deserters and 6000 demobilized from the AUC.  He said his 
government is willing to negotiate with any group willing to 
commit to a cease-fire and talk peace.  Uribe said the peace 
process with the ELN was suspended because the group would 
not agree to suspend kidnapping. 
 
6.  (C) Uribe said Colombia,s congress is developing a 
framework for negotiations that will apply to all armed 
groups, noting that all groups commit similar crimes.  He 
said the law must be balanced between justice and peace, and 
that it cannot be a law of impunity in the name of peace. 
Uribe added that the last peace process granted amnesty, but 
the new Colombian Constitution no longer allows the 
government to pardon crimes against humanity.  Uribe declared 
that those who commit atrocities must go to jail, but he 
added that the sentences cannot be long, perhaps 5-8 years at 
most.  He said the criminals must forfeit their illicit 
wealth and that the government will use these seizures to 
provide reparations for the families of the victims of 
violence.  Uribe said the government would not negotiate 
extradition as part of the peace process. 
 
7.  (C) Representative Issa complimented Uribe on his peace 
process accomplishments, especially concerning the 6000 
demobilized paramilitary members.  Issa noted that winning 
the hearts and minds of the combatants and the communities 
where they live is key to continued success.  Uribe responded 
by describing the importance of developing a successful 
resettlement program.  He said his administration wants to 
prepare the former combatants to quickly find legal jobs.  He 
added that as a result of initial resistance from the private 
sector, the GOC will employ many of the demobilized in 
support of public works.  Uribe stated that 30,000 rural 
families that once worked in the drug trade now work for the 
government of Colombia, some as conservationists protecting 
sensitive rain forest areas. 
 
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Stay the Course in the Fight Against Drugs 
------------------------------------------ 
 
8.  (C) President Uribe announced to the delegation that he 
had signed over 280 extradition cases, mainly for criminals 
bound for the United States.  He added that his 
administration is working to resolve problems with the 
Supreme Court of Justice concerning the allowable length of 
sentences, to further facilitate additional extraditions. 
Representative Weller thanked President Uribe for his 
government,s efforts in this area, acknowledging that the 
President,s actions come with a political cost at home and 
in the region. 
 
9.  (C) Uribe strongly promoted aerial eradication as a key 
tool in the war against drugs.  He said opium production went 
down in 2004, although coca cultivation was up slightly. 
Uribe added that, as a result of aerial eradication efforts, 
the coca plants that have been re-planted in fumigated areas 
are less mature and not as productive as the plants that were 
destroyed by aerial spraying.  Uribe stated that during 
Secretary Rice's upcoming trip to Colombia, he would ask her 
 
SIPDIS 
to look for ways to bring two new wings of spray aircraft to 
Colombia to increase Colombia,s aerial eradication capacity. 
 Uribe said he also supported strengthening the manual 
eradication program in Colombia.  He added that manual 
eradication is not a replacement for aerial spraying, but 
rather a compliment to the aerial eradication program. 
 
10. (C) Before lunch began, President Uribe told a staked out 
press corps that aerial eradication was helping win the fight 
against drugs in Colombia.  He went on to describe the 
importance to his administration of spraying coca 
cultivations in Colombia,s national parks.  He then turned 
to Environment Minister Suarez and asked her when spraying in 
the parks could begin.  Looking somewhat surprised, Minister 
Suarez talked briefly about awaiting a decision on this 
matter from the Consejo Nacional de Estupifacientes (CNE) and 
other legal entities.  Uribe urged her to move quickly on the 
issue, and she agreed to do so. 
 
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Economic Trends Are Positive ) FTA Discussed 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
11.  (C) President Uribe told the delegation that Colombia,s 
economic situation had improved considerably under his 
administration.  He pointed to a reduced fiscal deficit, 
reduced inflation targets (4.5-5 percent for 2005), and an 
increase of around 30 percent in private investment growth 
for 2004.  Uribe said the constitutional amendment concerning 
pension reform had passed through 5 of 8 required 
congressional debates, and that he was optimistic the 
amendment would be passed by June 20, when congress adjourns. 
 
12.  (C) On trade issues, Uribe said there is a political 
debate in Colombia over the role of Colombia in a globalized 
economy.  The debate, he added, centers around the sensitive 
issue of agriculture.  Agriculture, according to Uribe, 
represents almost 20 percent of Colombia,s GDP.  Promoting 
agriculture, he said, is also the best way to destroy illicit 
crops.  Turing to the issue of agriculture subsidies, Uribe 
said he understands U.S. agricultural policy, and that he 
would not ask the U.S. to abolish its subsidy program. 
Instead, Uribe said Colombia would like a compensation fund 
set up to subsidize Colombian production of five or six 
sensitive agricultural products (he mentioned wheat, corn, 
soy, sugar, rice, and cotton) that compete with U.S. products 
receiving domestic support.  Uribe said supporting these 
products in Colombia is necessary to defeat terrorists and 
eliminate illegal drugs. 
 
13.  (C) Representative Weller said the U.S. Congress 
understands the sensitivity of the agricultural sector.  He 
told Uribe that the Congress is hopeful that the WTO will 
soon move forward on a comprehensive approach to reducing and 
eliminating agricultural subsides around the world, including 
from the U.S., Europe, and Japan.  He added that the U.S. 
cannot unilaterally eliminate subsidies and still hope to 
achieve a global WTO agreement on the issue.  Representative 
Issa told Uribe that transition time for sectors affected by 
the FTA are important tools that can be used to ease 
sensitive sectors into free trade realities.  Weller added 
that international education can strengthen trade 
relationships and could be a selling point for those working 
in sectors affected by the FTA.  Uribe agreed and stated that 
his political &stump speech8 included support for programs 
that increased vocational education and used international 
PhD programs to targeted research needs and develop new 
curricula for Colombian academic institutions. 
 
14.  Comment:  The tone of the meeting was very positive. 
Representative Moran, complimenting Uribe, said Colombia is 
pulling the region together, and that the GOC is viewed by 
many as a model of mature democratic institutions.  Uribe's 
rejection of totalitarian rule and his success on issues 
related to security and the peace process, Moran noted, have 
generated a high level of popularity for his policies.  The 
bipartisan delegation expressed continued support for 
Colombia's progress. 
WOOD