US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA4204

UNCLAS BOGOTA 004204 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER, PREL, PINS, ASEC, CO 
SUBJECT: GOC URGES SECRETARY RICE TO LIFT TRAVEL ADVISORY 
 
1. (U) On April 27, Commerce Minister Jorge Humberto Botero 
gave Secretary Rice a document explaining why the USG should 
lift the travel advisory for parts of Colombia (faxed to 
WHA/AND).  The paper asserted that the travel advisory does 
not take into account decreases in murder and kidnapping and 
other significant security improvements since Uribe took 
office, especially in Cartagena, San Andres Island, Bogota, 
and Medellin. 
 
2. Begin text: 
VISIT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZA RICE 
 
ASSESMENT OF THE TRAVEL WARNING FOR COLOMBIA 
 
1. At present the travel warning for Colombia, issued by the 
United States' Department of State, warns that 
narco-terrorism and violence affect all urban and rural areas 
of the country. For this reason the travel warning advises US 
citizens to avoid travel to Colombia. 
 
2. However, this travel warning does not accurately reflect 
the advances made by National Government's commitment to 
ensure adequate security through its Democratic Security 
Policy. The following figures from the last twelve months 
demonstrate a substantial improvement on this field. 
 
-- 19% reduction of the attacks on the military. 
-- 16% reduction in homicides. 
-- 49% reduction in collective homicides. 
-- 49% reduction in kidnappings. 
-- 57% reduction in the attacks on the electrical power 
infrastructure. 
-- 50% reduction in the attacks on cities/towns. Between 2002 
y 2004, this type of attacks fell by 83%. 
-- 12% rise in the numbers of demobilized irregular 
self-defense groups. 
-- Homicides have fallen by 6% between 2002 y 2004. 
 
3. Likewise, certain cities and regions demonstrate higher 
security levels than the national average: 
 
-- Bogot, Medelln, Cartagena y San Andrs have not been 
targeted by terrorist attacks. 
-- In Bogot, between the years 2002 and 2004, homicides fell 
by 20.8%. 
-- In Medelln, between the years 2002 and 2004, homicides 
fell by 65.3%. 
-- Cartagena: homicides fell 6% between 2002 and 2004. 
-- San Andrs: In the year 2005, only one homicide took 
place. 
 
4. In light of the above, Colombia therefore seeks: 
 
That the travel warning recognize Colombia's improved 
security situation. Therefore, the travel warning should be 
lifted for travel to cities like Bogot, Medelln, Cartagena 
and San Andres. 
 
End text 
 
 
WOOD