US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA10164

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 010164 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2015 
TAGS: KJUS, PGOV, PREL, PTER, CO, OAS, Demobilization 
SUBJECT: CARAMAGNA POSITIVE ON OAS VERIFICATION MISSION'S 
FUTURE ROLE 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood. 
Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. (C) WHA/AND Director Phil French met with Organization of 
American States (OAS) Verification Mission Director Sergio 
Caramagna on October 21 to discuss financial and political 
support for the mission.  Caramagna explained that a lack of 
resources had limited the mission's capacity to assist the 
peace process.  Nevertheless, the region is finally beginning 
to back Colombia with increased political and personnel 
support; he hoped that financial contributions would follow. 
Despite the recent setbacks in negotiations between the GOC 
and AUC leaders he believes, the fact that the leaders are 
still sitting at the negotiating table is positive.  End 
Summary. 
 
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PROGRESS IN COLOMBIA APPARENT 
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2. (SBU) WHA/AND Director French and OAS Verification Mission 
Director Caramagna during their meeting on October 21 agreed 
that Colombia has made significant progress on various fronts 
over the last decade.  Caramagna's impression was that 
Colombia's institutional capacity is one of the strongest in 
the region.  The GOC's determination to fight against 
illegality is the result of its major security advancements. 
According to Caramagna, its ability, thus far, to demobilize 
over 11,000 illegal combatants is notable and contributing to 
the decrease in crime in the country.  The GOC's commitment 
to the AUC peace process at the highest levels of government 
is strong and impressive. 
 
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BACKGROUND ON THE OAS VERIFICATION MISSION 
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3. (SBU) Caramagna explained that the OAS received a mandate 
to provide assistance to a peace process of a magnitude 
unprecedented in the region.  To accomplish that mandate, the 
OAS was given three principal tasks: 1) to verify the 
cessation of hostilities; 2) to verify disarmament; and 3) to 
work with communities affected by the violence. 
Nevertheless, because of lack of resources, the OAS is 
struggling to fulfill all its commitments.  The total staff 
of the mission is 42, with only 20 in the field.  With only 
four staff members in the area of Santa Fe de Ralito, for 
example, the mission is assisting 60 communities.  Active in 
eight conflict areas now, Caramagna said the mission will 
have to at least double its personnel to provide effective 
coverage throughout the country. 
 
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EFFORTS TO INCREASE SUPPORT FOR THE MISSION 
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4. (SBU) Caramagna was eager to report that the region is 
finally showing its support to Colombia.  He said the region 
is beginning to realize that the conflict belongs to the 
entire continent.  Several countries are experiencing similar 
problems of governability associated with the legitimacy of 
the State.  Caramagna said it is critical for the OAS to 
obtain internal consensus among its members that Colombia 
should be a priority and that Latin America should not wait 
for external assistance from the Europeans and others to 
begin bringing peace to the region. 
 
5. (C) Caramagna noted that the mission has received in 
recent weeks support from Mexico, Brazil, Chile, and the 
Bahamas.  Bahamas, support during the permanent council 
meeting on Colombia's peace process in October was symbolic 
but important.  In particular, Mexico was willing to send 
"experts".  Other countries that have offered support outside 
the region, besides the United States and Canada, include 
Spain, Netherlands, Ireland, and Korea.  WHA/AND Director 
French explained that Colombia faces the "chicken and the 
egg" dilemma, which is that countries are unwilling to 
support the mission until they see progress, but the 
mission's progress is harder to achieve without increased 
support. 
 
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READ-OUT ON STATE OF GOC/AUC NEGOTIATIONS 
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6. (C) As the GOC attempted to negotiate the demobilization 
with the most difficult paramilitary blocs, the transfer of 
Diego Murillo, AKA "Don Berna" to a high-security prison was 
damaging paramilitary confidence in the process, Caramagna 
said.  Despite the recent setbacks in negotiations between 
the GOC and AUC leaders, the fact that the leaders are still 
sitting at the negotiating table should be interpreted as a 
sign that talks would continue to move forward.  He warned, 
however, that the paramilitaries, fear over extradition and 
jail time will continue to be obstacles. 
7. (U) This cable has been cleared by WHA/AND office director 
French. 
WOOD