

Currently released so far... 12689 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AF
ASEC
AR
AEMR
AMGT
AE
AU
AID
AORC
APER
AS
AM
AFIN
AMED
AJ
AGR
ACOA
ANET
ASIG
ABLD
AL
AA
APECO
AGAO
AY
AGMT
APEC
AINF
AG
ACS
AECL
AFFAIRS
ABUD
ASUP
ADANA
AADP
AMCHAMS
ARF
ASEAN
ADPM
ATRN
ALOW
APCS
ADCO
ACAO
AORG
AROC
AO
AODE
ACABQ
AX
AMEX
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
ASCH
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORL
ADM
AN
AIT
BU
BR
BL
BO
BA
BB
BG
BM
BBSR
BH
BEXP
BK
BD
BTIO
BT
BE
BY
BF
BX
BP
BRUSSELS
BILAT
BIDEN
BC
BMGT
BWC
BN
BTIU
CH
CG
CF
CU
CE
CVIS
CASC
CO
CS
CA
CIDA
CBW
CW
CMGT
CI
CODEL
CY
CPAS
CJAN
CD
CWC
CDG
CIA
CL
CROS
CAPC
CTR
CT
CR
CBSA
CEUDA
COM
CFED
CV
CACS
CARSON
CLINTON
CN
CONS
CM
CAC
CIC
COPUOS
CDC
CONDOLEEZZA
CICTE
COUNTER
COUNTRY
CBE
CKGR
CHR
CVR
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CLEARANCE
COE
CARICOM
CB
CSW
CITT
CACM
CDB
CJUS
CTM
CAN
CLMT
CBC
CNARC
CIS
EG
EZ
EUN
ECON
ETRD
ECPS
EFIN
ENRG
ETTC
EPET
EINV
EAID
EAIR
EWWT
EU
EAGR
EC
ELAB
EIND
EN
EMIN
ESENV
ENNP
EFIS
ELTN
ET
ECIN
EFTA
ES
EINT
EI
ENGR
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENVI
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECINECONCS
ELN
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EXTERNAL
EXIM
ETRO
ENIV
ESA
ER
EK
EUR
EFINECONCS
EUMEM
EUREM
EPA
ERNG
ENERG
ECA
ETRC
EINVEFIN
ETC
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
ECONOMIC
EXBS
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
EREL
EINVETC
ECONCS
ETRA
EAIG
EUC
ERD
ETRN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
IS
IZ
IR
IC
IO
IN
ID
IGAD
IT
ILC
IAEA
ITU
ICAO
IMO
IBRD
IMF
ICJ
IAHRC
ITF
INRA
INRO
IWC
IQ
IV
ICRC
ICTY
INRB
IEFIN
ILO
ITRA
ITALY
IBET
ISRAELI
IL
INTELSAT
IRC
IDP
ICTR
IRAQI
IPR
IIP
INMARSAT
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
INTERNAL
IRS
IA
INTERPOL
IEA
INR
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
ISRAEL
IACI
INDO
IDA
ISLAMISTS
KSPR
KNNP
KWBG
KAWK
KISL
KPAO
KN
KS
KIPR
KCRM
KDEM
KIRF
KJUS
KHLS
KSCA
KOMC
KAWC
KV
KFRD
KWMN
KTIP
KPWR
KSUM
KGHG
KTIA
KTFN
KIRC
KCOR
KACT
KMDR
KGIC
KOLY
KUNR
KIDE
KMPI
KPKO
KCFE
KVPR
KRAD
KPAL
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KTEX
KTDB
KFSC
KZ
KSEP
KFLU
KE
KU
KPLS
KRVC
KRIM
KSTH
KG
KFLO
KPOA
KICC
KDDG
KPRV
KTBT
KBCT
KSAF
KMOC
KDRG
KBIO
KREC
KSTC
KVRP
KBTR
KMIG
KENV
KNSD
KCGC
KWAC
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KWMM
KPRP
KNEI
KPAI
KO
KVIR
KX
KMCA
KCRS
KMFO
KID
KCIP
KNAR
KR
KCRCM
KBTS
KSEO
KHDP
KFIN
KOCI
KGIT
KNUP
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KSCI
KTLA
KHIV
KCSY
KTRD
KMRS
KNPP
KJUST
KCMR
KTER
KRCM
KCFC
KSAC
KCHG
KREL
KFTFN
KCOM
KLIG
KDEMAF
KAID
KGCC
KICA
KHUM
KSEC
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KWWMN
KOM
KWNM
KRFD
KRGY
KIFR
KWMNCS
KPAK
KOMS
KHSA
MPOS
MOPS
MARR
MTCR
MNUC
MASS
MX
MCAP
MAR
MTRE
MASC
MK
MG
MTCRE
MI
MD
MA
MO
MY
MU
ML
MRCRE
MAS
MEDIA
MC
MR
MIL
MW
MARAD
MAPP
MZ
MP
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MEPN
MEPI
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MT
MCC
MIK
MAPS
MV
MILITARY
MDC
MEPP
MASSMNUC
MUCN
MQADHAFI
NATO
NG
NL
NZ
NT
NW
NO
NU
NS
NPT
NASA
NI
NK
NSG
NE
NORAD
NAFTA
NP
NATIONAL
NSSP
NSF
NA
NGO
NV
NR
NDP
NIPP
NZUS
NH
NC
NEW
NRR
NAR
NATOPREL
NPG
NSC
NPA
NSFO
OPDC
OPRC
OEXC
OTRA
ODIP
OIIP
OVIP
OPIC
OPCW
OAS
OREP
OSCE
OSCI
OES
OFDP
OECD
OCS
OIC
OPAD
OVP
OHUM
OFFICIALS
OIE
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OBSP
OFDA
ON
OCII
PREL
PGOV
PARM
PINR
PTER
PHUM
PK
PREF
PM
PHSA
PA
PINS
PE
PBTS
PCI
PO
PL
POGOV
PAK
PEL
PGIV
PROP
PP
PBIO
POL
POLITICS
POLICY
PINL
PBT
PMIL
POV
PTBS
PG
POSTS
PALESTINIAN
PROV
PNAT
PINF
PRL
PAS
PDOV
PRAM
PREO
PAHO
PHUMPGOV
PAO
PREFA
PSI
POLITICAL
PAIGH
PARMS
PROG
PTERE
PRGOV
PORG
PS
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PNG
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PGOC
PY
PLN
PHUH
PF
PHUS
PU
PARTIES
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PHUMPREL
RS
RU
RW
REACTION
RCMP
RSO
RO
RP
ROOD
RM
ROBERT
RICE
REGION
RSP
RF
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
RELATIONS
RFE
REPORT
SY
SP
SOCI
SMIG
SNAR
SCUL
SC
SU
SO
SI
SENV
SZ
SW
SA
SR
SF
SEVN
SN
STEINBERG
SEN
SG
SYR
SWE
SK
SH
SNARCS
SAARC
SNARIZ
SPCE
SARS
SNARN
SCRS
SYRIA
SL
SENVKGHG
SAN
ST
SIPDIS
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SANC
SHI
SHUM
SIPRS
TSPA
TSPL
TU
TBIO
TRGY
TPHY
TS
TP
TW
TBID
TI
TF
TZ
TD
TT
TN
TNGD
TC
TX
TH
TL
TIP
THPY
TV
TK
TERRORISM
TO
TRSY
TURKEY
TINT
TFIN
TAGS
TR
US
UNSC
UNGA
UK
UP
UNCHC
UN
UNMIK
UNCSD
UY
USTR
USOAS
UNHRC
UNFCYP
UG
UNAUS
UNESCO
UNIDROIT
UNO
UV
UNHCR
USUN
UZ
USNC
UNCHR
UNCND
UNEP
USEU
USPS
USAID
UE
UNVIE
UAE
UNDP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNDESCO
UNC
UNPUOS
UNDC
UNICEF
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 06BOGOTA7460, GOC PEACE COMMISSIONER ON ELN, PARAMILITARIES AND
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06BOGOTA7460.
VZCZCXYZ0002
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHBO #7460/01 2271838
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 151838Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7955
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA IMMEDIATE 7045
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS IMMEDIATE 8068
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ AUG 8149
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA IMMEDIATE 4136
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID IMMEDIATE 9278
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO IMMEDIATE 0331
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA IMMEDIATE 9425
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 0909
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO IMMEDIATE 4791
RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE IMMEDIATE 4074
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO IMMEDIATE 2113
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA IMMEDIATE 0101
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 1369
RUEHBO/USMILGP BOGOTA CO IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 007460
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/14/2016
TAGS: MARR PGOV PREL PTER CO CS CU FR NO SP SZ
SUBJECT: GOC PEACE COMMISSIONER ON ELN, PARAMILITARIES AND
THE FARC
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1.(C) Summary: GOC Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo
told the Ambassador August 8 he would soon meet with ELN
leader Antonio Garcia to deliver a bold peace proposal aimed
at accelerating the ELN peace process. He urged the U.S. to
insist that the ELN renounce violence and to call for justice
for ELN members who had committed serious crimes. Such U.S.
action would enhance the GOC,s leverage in the ELN talks.
On the paramilitaries, Restrepo said GOC issuance of
implementing regulations for the Justice and Peace
law*despite the high domestic and international political
costs*would create an opportunity to consolidate the
demobilization of paramilitary leaders and their
organizations. Restrepo said GOC overtures to the FARC are
subordinate to the GOC's democratic security strategy. The
GOC believes the FARC is only interested in tactical talks at
this time. End Summary
ELN
---
2.(C) Restrepo told the Ambassador August 8 he would soon
meet discreetly with ELN leader Antonio Garcia to deliver an
&audacious8 GOC peace proposal aimed at accelerating the
ELN process. If Garcia reacts favorably, it will start a
formal peace process. The GOC believes conditions are ripe
for such an initiative, since the ELN,s Central Command
(COCE) recognizes it is increasingly losing control over its
military fronts, is under growing Colombian military
pressure, and faces a significant FARC threat. Some ELN
fronts are becoming more involved in narcotrafficking; others
are in danger of being absorbed by the FARC. The ELN cannot
survive two years of desultory peace talks, Restrepo said.
If the process dragged on, the ELN would disintegrate.
Moreover, ELN leaders want very much to participate, in some
form, in the October 2007 local elections. Since this would
require two sessions of congress to approve a constitutional
reform, there must be forward progress quickly.
3.(C) Restrepo said the GOC,s peace proposal would focus on
a cease-fire, disarmament, and the group,s entry into the
democratic political process. The ELN rejected the notion
that the Justice and Peace Law would apply to its members.
The GOC is not working on an alternative legal framework, but
does not rule out the possibility. Restrepo said the GOC is
not in a strong enough political position at the moment to
insist that the justice issue be included. &If we cannot
get the ELN to accept a ceasefire, how can we push for
justice?8 he asked. The GOC is under no pressure from
Colombian or international civil society, the European
countries accompanying the process (Spain, Norway and
Switzerland), or Colombian public opinion to raise justice
issues with the ELN.
4.(C) Restrepo said the ELN,s desire to participate in
elections could help introduce the justice issue into the
talks. ELN members who had committed human rights abuses
could not hold office without constitutional reform.
Congress would have to approve such a change, which could
trigger a public debate over the appropriate punishment for
ELN members.
5.(C) Restrepo said the designation of the ELN as a terrorist
group by the U.S. and the European Union (EU) gives the
international community some leverage over the group. The
ELN wants to get off the terrorist lists and to be viewed as
a legitimate political actor. Restrepo urged the U.S. to
insist that the ELN renounce violence and to call for justice
for ELN members who have committed serious crimes. He also
asked that the U.S. coordinate such a stance with the EU.
This would enhance the GOC,s bargaining position, and would
put the justice issue on the negotiating table.
6.(C) Restrepo said that despite the ELN,s weakness,
negotiations with the group would not be easy. The ELN is &a
group of kidnappers with good public relations.8 & They
have a kidnappers, mentality of give me, give me, give me,8
Restrepo declared. Still, if all went well, the next round
of talks*while not yet scheduled*would occur in Havana. It
would be a mistake to accede to the ELN,s wish that the
talks shift to Europe without first arriving at basic
agreements, Restrepo said.
Paramilitary Process
--------------------
7.(C) Restrepo said the paramilitary process aims to take
down the paramilitary (para) leaders and their organizations
in a slow, step-by-step fashion. It is key to keep the paras
at the negotiating table. The process almost broke down
after the Constitutional Court,s May 19 press release
outlining its ruling on the Justice and Peace Law (Law 975).
Many paras asserted that given the ruling, their signatures
on the Law 975 list of paras seeking the law,s benefits are
no longer valid. Para leader Ernesto Baez had urged para
commander El Aleman not to demobilize his forces due to the
ruling, but Aleman had ignored the request. Still, the
process remains fragile. Restrepo said the collapse of the
para process would be a disaster. It would radicalize
mid-level commanders, lead to renewed violence, and undermine
any ELN process.
8.(C) Restrepo said the next step is for the GOC to issue
implementing regulations clarifying the Constitutional
Court,s ruling on Law 975. He acknowledged the regulations
would be controversial and that the GOC would pay a high
domestic and international political cost. Still, the
issuance of the regulations was key, since it would give the
GOC the political strength to hand over the Law 975 list of
paramilitaries to the Prosecutor General (Fiscalia). If the
paras continued to object to the list, the GOC would be in a
strong political position to go after them militarily. If
the paras acquiesced, the Law 975 process would start in
terms of both truth and reparations. This would create a new
political dynamic, and would offer an opportunity to
consolidate the demobilization of para leaders and their
organizations. It would also invovle the Fiscalia in the
process.
9.(C) Asked about Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, meeting
with paramilitary leaders in San Jose on August 4, Restrepo
said there was almost no prior coordination with the GOC.
The Costa Rican Foreign Ministry had called Restrepo the day
before the meeting to inform him that 20 paramilitary leaders
would meet with Arias in San Jose. The GOC objected, and in
the end, only four paras traveled to Costa Rica. Restrepo
said in a follow-up meeting with President Uribe in Bogota
after the inauguration, it was clear that Arias, overture to
the paras was designed to give the Costa Rican President a
role in the GOC,s peace efforts with the ELN and FARC as
well. The GOC would resist such a move. Still, the GOC
appreciated that the paras, meeting with Arias had enhanced
the credibility of the para process. In addition, the
Fundacion Arias has agreed to provide some technical
assistance to the process.
FARC
----
10.(C) Restrepo said President Uribe is quietly conveying to
the FARC his willingness to talk through the Catholic Church,
international community (Spain, France and Switzerland), and
local interlocutors such as Alvaro Leyva and Carlos Lozano.
The GOC also has its own direct channel to the group. He
said the GOC has no illusions the FARC will respond
positively in the near term, but it suits the GOC,s
interests to be perceived as leaving a door open to the
group. Still, the peace initiative is subordinate to the
GOC,s democratic security policy. The GOC,s overtures to
the FARC are &a skirmish we need to win to advance our
military goals.8 Restrepo said the GOC would not make a
public offer to either the FARC or ELN to avoid putting
pressure on itself.
11.(C) Restrepo said the FARC continues to take an "arrogant"
approach to the GOC, conditioning the start of broad peace
talks on GOC demilitarization of two departments*Caqueta and
Putumayo. The FARC apparently envisions these departments
enjoying only a loose territorial association to Colombia.
He said the FARC is alarmed by U.S. indictments of over 50
FARC leaders, and will seek a no-extradition commitment from
the GOC and the U.S. in any process. Still, at the moment,
FARC leaders believe they have absorbed the Colombian
military,s best punch and are still standing. They feel no
pressure to engage in more than tactical discussions.
Restrepo speculated that the Colombian military would need to
kill or capture one or two secretariat members before the
FARC would consider serious peace discussions.
WOOD