US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA5566

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 005566 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, ETRD, OREP, SNAR, CO 
SUBJECT: CODEL DAVIS: TERRORISM, DRUGS, FTA IN COLOMBIA 
 
 
Classified By: Charge Milton K. Drucker for reason 1.4 D. 
 
 1.  (U)  Summary.  Representative Tom Davis (R-VA), Chairman 
of the House Government Reform Committee, led a Congressional 
delegation to Colombia  June 1 to June 3.  Other Government 
Reform Committee members included Rep. Candice Miller (R-MI), 
Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), and Rep. Carolyn Maloney 
(D-NY).  Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) from the House Appropriations 
Committee also attended.  Codel Davis focused on bilateral 
cooperation in fighting narcotics trafficking and terrorism 
and obtaining an update on bilateral negotiations on the 
Andean Free Trade Agreement.  The delegation met with 
Minister of Trade Botero and conducted a site visit to a coca 
manual eradication site supported by post's Narcotics Affairs 
Section.  A meeting with President Uribe, Minister of Foreign 
Relations Barco, and Minister of Defense Uribe will be 
reported septel.  End Summary. 
 
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Ministry of Trade -- CAFTA and Andean FTA Discussed 
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2. (C) On June 1, the delegation met with Minister of Trade 
Botero, Vice Minister Munoz, and FTA chief negotiator Gomez 
to discuss the current state of play of the Andean FTA.  Rep. 
Davis opened the meeting by stating the debate in the U.S. 
Congress over CAFTA was delicate, with 20 or more votes 
needed to pass the House.  Davis expressed his support for 
Colombian President Uribe,s leadership, as well as his 
support for CAFTA and the Andean FTA.  He then invited the 
other members of the delegation to express their opinions. 
Rep. Miller stated that while she supported free trade, no 
one in her district had expressed any support for CAFTA. 
Rep. Maloney outlined her reservations about CAFTA and 
concerns about labor issues.  Rep. Ruppersberger said he 
personally could support free trade, but many in his district 
did not support CAFTA.  He noted that his district included 
large companies who had suffered from foreign competition. 
Rep. Wolf stated his concern about the lack of strong action 
against China, especially regarding protection of 
intellectual property rights, and his intent to vote against 
any agreement until the administration took a hard line 
stance on human rights in China. 
 
3. (C) Minister Botero expressed his concerns about the need 
for more flexibility from the United States regarding 
agriculture and his belief that the FTA would be a win-win 
situation for both our countries.  Botero added that 
Colombia,s concern about hurting the local agricultural 
sector was a national security matter, as those that left 
legal products would either turn to cultivation coca or the 
guerrilla groups.  Gomez then went on to explain that 
Colombia was a growing, billion dollar a year agricultural 
market and that the U.S. only had half the market.  With an 
FTA, the U.S. percentage could grow to 70-80 percent overall, 
and almost total dominance in wheat, corn, and barley.  As it 
stood, Colombia was the United States' biggest agricultural 
market south of Mexico and the GOC was prepared to give the 
U.S. an even bigger market in exchange for concessions on 
market access to the U.S. for Colombian agricultural items. 
Rep. Davis said he would be glad to share the Minister,s 
concerns with USTR Portman. 
 
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Visit to Manual Eradication Project 
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4. (U) Codel members and staff traveled to Pauna, Department 
of Boyaca in Colombian National Police (CNP) UH-60L 
Blackhawks to observe CNP manual coca eradication activities 
the morning of June 2.  Through hands-on experience and 
in-field briefings by CNP Antinarcotics Director General 
Gomez and his eradication staff, the delegation learned that 
in selected areas and with adequate security, manual 
eradication can be a useful complement to aerial eradication. 
 General Gomez and his staff explained that in isolated 
cases, i.e., where it is difficult to spray from the air 
because of very small field size, permanent cloud cover, or 
high winds, manual eradication can be cost-effective.  The 
delegation also noted the limitations on such activities 
imposed by rugged terrain, rigorous working conditions, and 
the limited ground transport capabilities of the CNP.  The 
CNP's Judicial Police also briefed the delegation on GOC's 
ongoing initiative to seize properties of landowners who grow 
illicit crops on their land. 
 
5. (U)  The Colombian American Chamber of Commerce hosted a 
dinner on June 1 for the delegation and American Chamber 
members.  The Ambassador hosted a dinner for the delegation 
and key Colombian Congressional leadership on June 2.  The 
delegation had a chance to exchange ideas with counterparts 
on the legislative process, the law on peace and justice, 
Plan Colombia, and the Free Trade Agreement. 
 
6. (U) Codel Davis was unable to clear this cable before 
departure. 
DRUCKER