UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2013-01203 Doc No C17423238 Date 10 05 20172 1 PTQ6334 RELEASE IN FULL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 01 ACTION ARA-01 BOGOTA INFO ACDA-17 DINT-01 TEDE-00 M-00 PRS-01 T-00 LOG-00 OASY-00 H-01 ADS-00 PM-00 TRSE-00 054W 03714 PTQ6334 01 OF 03 ACDE-00 DODE-00 INR-00 NSAE-00 P-01 USIE-00 212159Z AID-01 DOER-00 I0-10 NSCE-00 SP-00 PMB-00 ------------------B2EBA0 CIAE-00 EB-01 JUSE-00 OIC-02 SR-00 PRME-01 INL-02 OIGO-01 LAB-01 OMB-01 SS-00 DRL-09 DEAE-00 FBIE-00 L-01 PA-01 STR-01 G-00 212159Z 38 P 2121532 MAR 95 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8175 INFO AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY AMEMBASSY QUITO USCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS PM AMEMBASSY LIMA AMEMBASSY LA PAZ C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BOGOTA 003714 E O 12356 DECL OADR TAGS PGOV PREL PHUM PINR SNAR CO SUBJECT AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH GOVERNOR OF ANTIOQUTA REF 1 BOGOTA 3345 CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE-TEXT CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 BOGOTA 03714 01 OF 03 212159Z SUMMARY REVIEW AUTHORITY Marvin Russell Senior Reviewer UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2013-01203 Doc No C17423238 Date 10 05 2017 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2013-01203 Doc No C17423238 Date 10 05 2017 IN CONJUNCTION WITH_A VISIT TO MEDELLIN ORGANIZED BY 2 THE FOREIGN COMMERCIAL SERVICE AND THE MEDELLIN COLOMBIAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE THE AMBASSADOR MET MARCH 14 FOR APPROXIMATELY 90 MINUTES WITH ALVARO URIBE VELEZ RECENTLY-ELECTED GOVERNOR OF THE DEPARTMENT STATE OF ANTIOQUTA THE GOVERNOR SEE BIO INFORMATION AT PARA 14 AND MEMBERS OF HIS STAFF OUTLINED PLANS TO DEAL WITH VIOLENCE NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING KIDNAPPING AND OTHER SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN ANTIOQUTA THE AMBASSADOR'SUMMARIZED THE AREAS IN WHICH THE USG EXPECTS MORE EFFICACY AND GREATER COUNTER NARCOTICS COOPERATION FROM THE GOC AND THE AREAS IN WHICH WE CAN COOPERATE A SECOND PART OF THE CONVERSATION SEPTEL DEALT WITH FOREIGN INVESTMENT TRADE DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM IN ANTIOQUTA END SUMMARY FRANK DISCUSSION OF COLOMBIAN-U S COOPERATION ---------------------------------------------3 AFTER A VISIT TO THE NEW RIO NEGRO AIR FORCE-BASE AMBASSADOR AND HIS PARTY WERE TRANSPORTED DOWN TO MEDELLIN BY HELICOPTER AND DRIVEN TO-GOVERNMENT HOUSE AMID VERY TIGHT SECURITY PROCEEDURES GOVERNOR ALVARO URIBE VELEZ RECEIVED THE EMBASSY PARTY IN A LARGE CONFERENCE ROOM AND INTRODUCED THEM TO HIS CLOSEST ASSOCIATES AND TO THE MILITARY POLICE SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE TEAM WITH WHICH HE WORKS CLOSELY THE GOVERNOR EXPLAINED THAT ALTHOUGH PABLO ESCOBAR IS DEAD AND THE SECURITY SITUATION IN MEDELLIN HAS IMPROVED SOMEWHAT ONE OF HIS GREATEST CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 BOGOTA 03714 01 OF 03 2121592 CONCERNS IS STILL IMPROVING THE SECURITY SITUATION AND COMBATTING NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING HE ADDED THAT A HIGH PRIORITY IS ERADICATING ALL ILLICT CROPS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ANTIOQUTA AND THAT DEFENSE MINISTER BOTERO HAS ASSURED HIM THAT ERADICATION WILL BE GIVEN TOP PRIORITY IN THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT'S PLANS GOVERNOR URIBE ASKED THE AMBASSADOR IF THE USG COULD HELP PROVIDE AIRCRAFT OR HELICOPTERS FOR SPRAYING OR AT LEAST PUT THEM IN TOUCH WITH A PRIVATE FIRM THAT WORKS IN THAT AREA THE AMBASSADOR SAID THAT IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR THE EMBASSY UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2013-01203 Doc No 017423238 Date 10105 2017 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2013-01203 Doc No C17423238 Date 10 05 2017 TO ASSIST DEPARTMENTAL GOVERNMENTS BUT COULD PROVIDE INFORMATION AND ASSURED THE GOVERNOR THAT THE USG WAS HE ADDED THAT THE ECONOMIC BEHIND HIS EFFORTS ALL THE WAY THE GOC AND FOR COLOMBIA OF CONSEQUENCES FOR DECERTIFICATION FOR POOR ANTI-NARCOTICS PERFORMANCE WOULD BE SERIOUS AND DESCRIBED THEM IN SOME DETAIL 4 IN RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNOR'S INTRODUCTORY REMARKS THE AMBASSADOR ADDRESSED THE BROAD ISSUE OF BILATERAL COOPERATION IN THE ANTI-NARCOTICS STRUGGLE HE ASSURED THE GOVERNOR THAT BILATERAL COOPERATION WILL CONTINUE DESPITE DOUBTS GENERATED LOCALLY BY MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS BUT INSISTED THAT THE COLOMBIAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE DRAMATICALLY IMPROVED WHICH IN TURN WOULD GIVE RISE TO GREATER U S CONFIDENCE AND COOPERATION INCLUDING PERHAPS A RENEWAL OF EVIDENCE THE AMBASSADOR POINTED OUT THE NEED FOR BETTER SHARING AIRPORT SECURITY ESPECIALLY IN CALI AND SAN ANDRES AND THE URGENT NEED TO STOP THE LARGE NARCOTICS SHIPMENTS THAT ARE TRANSITING THOSE AIRPORTS WITH IMPUNITY CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL 01 OF 03 PAGE 04 BOGOTA 03714 212159Z 5 THE AMBASSADOR RAISED THE ISSUE OF REWARDS BEING CONTEMPLATED BY THE GOC FOR THE ARREST AND CONVICTION OF VALLE DEL CAUCA TRAFFICKERS REFTEL NOTING THAT THE USG IS STUDYING WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN COOPERATE WITH THIS EFFORT PERHAPS HELPING TO PROVIDE REWARD MONIES 6 ON ERADICATION THE AMBASSADOR INFORMED GOVERNOR URIBE THAT HE PLANS TO MEET LATER IN THE WEEK WITH DEFENSE MINISTER BOTERO TO DISCUSS GOC OPERATIONS AND GOALS HE ADDED THAT NEW STATISTICS ON THE NUMBER OF HECTARES PLANTED IN POPPY AND AMAPOLA SUGGEST THAT IT WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR THE GOC TO ERADICATE ALL COCA AND POPPY CULTIVATION IN COLOMBIA THE AMBASSADOR ADDED HOWEVER THAT THE USG IS WILLING TO NEGOTIATE NEW AGREEMENTS ON ERADICATION WITH THE GOC WITH A VIEW TO PROVIDING HELICOPTERS MONEY FOR FUEL AND LOCALLY-PRODUCED GLIPHOSATE PILOT TRAINING AND FUNDS TO HIRE COLOMBIAN PILOTS HE SAID THAT THE EMBASSY HAS BEEN PRESSING-FOR SUCH AN AGREEMENT SINCE LATE LAST YEAR AND THAT THE GOAL OF ERADICATING 60 000 PLUS HECTARES COULD UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2013-01203 Doc No C17423238 Date 10 05 2017 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2013-01203 Doc No C17423238 Date 10 05 2017 BE ACCOMPLISHED IN TWO YEARS HE STRESSED TO THE GOVERNOR HOWEVER THE NEED TO SET REALISTIC GOALS AND MEET THEM NOTING THAT LAST WEEK HE HAD MET WITH EUROPEAN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNDCP WHO EXPRESSED A GREAT DEAL OF SKEPTICISM ABOUT COLOMBIA'S ABILITY TO REACH ITS ERADICATION OBJECTIVES FINALLY HE SPECULATED THAT CONFIDENTIAL NNNNPTQ6335 CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 01 BOGOTA 03714 02 OF 03 PTQ6335 212159Z ACTION ARA-01 INFO LOG-00 OASY-00 H-01 ADS-00 PM-00 TRSE-00 054W ACDA-17 DINT-01 TEDE-00 M-00 PRS-01 T-00 ACDE-00 DODE-00 INR-00 NSAE-00 P-01 USIE-00 AID-01 DOEE-00 I0-10 NSCE-00 SP-00 PMB-00 ------------------B2EBA4 P 2121532 MAR 95 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8176 INFO AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY AMEMBASSY QUITO USCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS PM AMEMBASSY LIMA AMEMBASSY LA PAZ CIAE-00 EB-01 JUSE-00 OIC-02 SR-00 PRNE-01 INL-02 OIGO-01 LAB-01 OMB-01 SS-00 DRL-09 DEAE-00 FBIE-00 L-01 PA-01 STR-01 G-00 212159Z 38 C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 BOGOTA 003714 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2013-01203 Doc No C17423238 Date 10 05 2017 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2013-01203 Doc No 017423238 Date 10 05 2017 DECL OADR E O 12356 PGOV PREL PHUM PINR SNAR CO TAGS AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH GOVERNOR OF ANTIOQUTA SUBJECT PRESIDENT SAMPER'S FOUR-NATION VISIT TO EUROPE WHICH ENDED MARCH 14 MAY PROVIDE HIM WITH A MORE ACCURATE VISION OF EUROPEAN ATTITUDES TOWARD COLOMBIAtS DRUG PROBLEM AND MORE REALISM IN SETTING AND MEETING ANTI-NARCOTICS GOALS CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 BOGOTA 03714 02 OF 03 212159Z 7 RETURNING TO THE CERTIFICATION ISSUE THE AMBASSADOR STRESSED TO URIBE THAT WHILE THE AMOUNTS OF U S ASSISTANCE UNDER THE FOREIGN ASSISTANCE ACT THAT MIGHT BE AFFECTED BY AN EVENTUAL DECERTIFICATION OF COLOMBIA WERE NOT LARGE HE STRESSED HOWEVER THAT MUCH OF THIS ASSISTANCE SUCH AS THAT PROVIDED BY THE DEA WAS NOT OPERATIONAL -- CONTRARY TO THE IMAGINATIVE ACCOUNTS APPEARING IN THE COLOMBIAN MEDIA -- BUT RATHER IN THE AREAS OF INTELLIGENCE DEVELOPMENT AND EXCHANGE AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT THE AMBASSADOR THEN DESCRIBED THE ECONOMIC AND TRADE EFFECTS OF THE A DECERTIFICATION WHICH WOULD BE CONSIDERABLE AMBASSADOR EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THIS YEAR OUR TWO GOVERNMENTS WILL BE ABLE TO FINE TUNE OUR ANTI-NARCOTICS COOPERATION IN ORDER TO MAKE IT FAR MORE EFFECTIVE ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE 8 NARCOTICS TRAFFICKERS AND SOME GUERRILLA MOVEMENTS RAISED BY THE GOVERNOR THE AMBASSADOR POINTED OUT THE IMPORTANCE OF USING EFFECTIVELY THE INTELLIGENCE GENERATED THROUGH JOINT COOPERATION GIVEN THE PERISHABLE NATURE OF MUCH OF THIS INFORMATION HE STRESSED THE NEED TO SPEED UP THE THE AMBASSADOR STRESSED THE PROCESS AND SEIZE THE MOMENT IMPORTANCE OF THE COLOMBIAN EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON TAKING A MORE PROACTIVE ROLE IN EDUCATING AND STAYING IN CONTACT WITH MEMBERS OF THE U S CONGRESS THE AMBASSADOR TOLD THE GOVERNOR THAT INTERNATIONAL 9 COOPERATION IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST NARCOTICS TRAFFICKERS RECENTLY STRESSED BY THE GOC IN ITS REACTION TO THE UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2013-01203 Doc No C17423238 Date 10 05 2017 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2013-01203 Doc No C17423238 Date 10 05 2017 CERTIFICATION DECISION WILL DEPEND ON COLOMBIA'S COMPLYING CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 BOGOTA 03714 02 OF 03 212159Z WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE VIENNA CONVENTION SPECIFICALLY PASSING THE LAW NOW PENDING IN CONGRESS ON CORRUPTION AND LAUNDERING OF NARCODOLLARS AND ENACTING LEGISLATION AIMED AT THE SEIZURE OF ILL-GOTTEN ASSETS FROM NARCOTICS TRAFFICKERS HE STRESSED THAT COLOMBIA'S EFFORTS WILL NOT BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY UNTIL THIS HAPPENS AND POINTED OUT THE PROGRESS MADE BY OTHER COUNTRIES IN THESE AREAS SECURITY DRUGS AND THUGS 10 RESPONDING TO THE AMBASSADOR'S REMARKS GOVERNOR URIBE MADE A BLUNT APPEAL FOR DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO THE DEPARTMENTAL GOVERNMENT OF ANTIOQUTA IN MEETING THE CHALLENGE POSED BY THE UNHOLY ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE TRAFFICKERS AND GUERRILLA ORGANIZATIONS CHARACTERIZING THEM AS INSEPARABLE HE SAID THAT AS A LEFTIST LEANING STUDENT IN THE LATE 605 HE WAS CONVINCED OF THE IDEOLOGICAL DIMENSION OF THE GUERRILLA STRUGGLE IN COLOMBIA BUT THAT TODAY HE IS CONVINCED THAT THEY ARE -WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS -- LITTLE MORE THAN HIRED THUGS HE SAID THAT THE GUERRILLA BANDS IN ANTIOQUTA PROVIDE SECURITY FOR THE LABS AND TRAFFICKING NETWORKS AND GET RICH KIDNAPPING INNOCENT CITIZENS HE CHARACTERIZED KIDNAPPING AS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM 11 SPEAKING BLUNTLY THE GOVERNOR TOLD THE AMBASSADOR THAT HE HAD THREE YEARS HIS TERM TO REVERSE THIS SITUATION AND THAT HE NEEDED HELP HE AND HIS SECURITY PEOPLE ELABORATED THAT THE STATE GOVERNMENT NEEDS HELICOPTERS CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2013-01203 Doc No 017423238 Date 10105 2017 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2013-01203 Doc No 017423238 Date 10 05 2017 BOGOTA PAGE 04 03714 02 OF 03 212159Z THAT THE POLICE NEED DESPATCHING EQUIPMENT RADIOS AND VEHICLES TO MEET THE CHALLENGE OF DELINQUENCY AND ASSISTANCE IN MOUNTING SOCIAL SOLIDARITY PROGRAMS THAT WILL REDUCE THE APPEAL OF THE TRAFFICKERS THE GUERRILLAS AND THE ORDINARY DELINQUENTS FOR ANTIOQUTA'S DESPERATE YOUTH 12 THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THEN PROCEEDED TO EXPLAIN AN ELABORATE SERIES OF CHARTS THAT HAD BEEN PREPARED TO DESCRIBE THE GOVERNOR'S STRATEGY FOR COMBATTING DELINQUENCY TERRORISM AND CRIME IN ANTIOQUTA THESE INCLUDE HOT LINES 800 NUMBERS AND SPECIAL MAIL BOXES TO DENOUNCE CORRUPTION STRENGTHENING OF THE DEPARTMENT'S 124 MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS LOBBYING FOR THE CREATION OF A SPECIAL ANTI-TERRORISM MILITARY UNIT AT THE RIO NEGRO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND CREATING A SOCIAL SOLIDARITY NETWORK TO PROVIDE GREATER SERVICES IN HEALTH EDUCATION RECREATION JOBS AND SECURITY THE GOVERNOR AND HIS SECURITY TEAM MEET EVERY MORNING AT 7 30- TO EVALUATE REPORTS AND PLAN STRATEGIES BUT -- THE GOVERNOR LAMENTED -- HE IS NOT GETTING MUCH HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT IN BOGOTA HE LAMENTED THAT MEDELLIN LIKE COLOMBIA LACKS CREDIBILITY THAT THEIR IMAGES ARE VERY SERIOUSLY TARNISHED AND VOWED THAT HIS ADMINISTRATION WOULD REVERSE THIS TREND HE THEN SPOKE OF THE NEED TO RESTORE TOLERANCE IN A HIGHLY POLARIZED SOCIETY AND RECOVER FAMILY VALUES CONFIDENTIAL NNNNPTQ6336 CONFIDENTIAL PTQ6336 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2013-01203 Doc No C17423238 Date 10105 2017 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2013-01203 Doc No C17423238 Date 10 05 2017 PAGE 01 ACTION ARA-01 BOGOTA INFO ACDA-17 DINT-01 TEDE-00 M-00 PRS-01 T-00 LOG-00 OASY-00 H-01 ADS-00 PM-00 TRSE-00 03714 03 OF 03 ACDE-00 DODE-00 INR-00 NSAE-00 P-01 USIE-00 212159Z AID-01 DOEE-00 I0-10 NSCE-00 SP-00 PMB-00 CIAE-00 EB-01 JUSE-00 OIC-02 SR-00 PRME-01 INL-02 OIGO-01 LAB-01 OMB-01 SS-00 DRL-09 DEAE-00 FBIE-00 L-01 PA-01 STR-01 G-00 054W ------------------B2EBAC P 212153Z MAR 95 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8177 INFO AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY AMEMBASSY QUITO USCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS PM AMEMBASSY LIMA AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 2122002 38 C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 BOGOTA 003714 E O 12356 DECL OADR TAGS PGOV PREL PHUM PINK SNAR CO SUBJECT AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH GOVERNOR OF ANTIOQUTA NOTING THAT THERE ARE OVER 200 000 FAMILIES IN ANTIOQUTA HEADED BY SINGLE MOTHERS LARGELY THE RESULT OF NARCO-GUERRILLA OPERATIONS CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 BOGOTA 03714 03 OF 03 212159Z 13 SHIFTING HIS FOCUS THE GOVERNOR THEN TOLD THE AMBASSADOR THAT THE TWO MOST CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES HE CURRENTLY FACES ARE THE CREATION AND FINANCING OF THE PROPOSED SOCIAL SOLIDARITY NETWORK AND AERIAL CROP SPRAYING TO WHICH HE IS TOTALLY COMMITTED HE ADDED THAT IN THE SOCIAL AREA HE IS FACED WITH A SERIOUS PROBLEM OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY -- INCLUDING PARTICIPATION OF MINORS IN KIDNAPPING PROTECTION OF DRUG LABS AND FIELDS AND THE SALE OF NARCOTICS -- THAT THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COURTS ARE UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2013-01203 Doc No C17423238 Date 10105 2017 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2013-01203 Doc No C17423238 Date 10 05 2017 AS MINORS THERE IS LITTLE THAT ILL-PREPARED TO DEAL WITH THE COURTS CAN DO BUT RELEASE THEM WHILE THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO OFFER REHABILITATION AND EDUCATIONAL JOB OPPORTUNITIES TO GET THESE KIDS OFF THE FINALLY IN THE JUDICIAL AREA THE GOVERNOR STREETS LAMENTED THE LACK OF DILIGENCE BY NATIONAL AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN IMPLEMENTING AND ENFORCING THE 1991 CONSTITUTION WHOSE IDEOLOGICAL OBJECTIVE WAS TO BREAK DOWN THE REGIONAL AND PARTISAN BARRIERS THAT SEPARATE COLOMBIANS AND HELP SOCIETY MOVE TOWARD GREATER INTEGRATION AND HE LAMENTED THAT THE FISCALIA IN HIS VIEW HAS TOLERANCE BEEN PARTICULARLY INEFFICIENT IN FULFILLING ITS NEW MANDATE UNDER THE 1991 CHARTER A YOUNG LEADER WITH A ROSY FUTURE 14 URIBE VELEZ 42 WAS THE YOUNGEST MAYOR IN MEDELLIN'S HISTORY AND -- ALTHOUGH NOT COMPLETELY WITHOUT TARNISH -IS A BRIGHT STAR IN THE LIBERAL PARTY FIRMAMENT A LAWYER BY TRAINING WITH A SPECIALIZATION IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS URIBE IS SCION OF A CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 BOGOTA 03714 03 OF 03 2121592 POLITICALLY PROMINENT MEDELLIN FAMILY AND BEGAN HIS CAREER IN THE MEDELLIN JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN 1980 LIBERAL PRESIDENT JULIO'CESAR TURBAY AYALA NAMED THE YOUNG LABOR LAWYER DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION AND THE FOLLOWING YEAR HE WAS NAMED ONE OF COLOMBIA'S MOST PROMISING YOUNG EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR IN 1982 HE WAS APPOINTED MAYOR OF MEDELLIN AT A TIME WHEN COLOMBIA'S SECOND LARGEST CITY WAS FACING WHAT WAS PERHAPS ITS WORST ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL CRISIS OF THE CENTURY HE WAS ASKED TO RESIGN BY URIBE RETURNED TO BOGOTA THE GOVERNOR FOUR MONTHS LATER IN EARLY 1983 AND WAS APPOINTED VICE MINISTER OF LABOR BY TURBAY AYALA SUBSEQUENTLY HE WAS ELECTED SENATOR FOR ANTIOQUTA A POSITION HE HELD FOR SEVEN YEARS HIS MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO LEGISLATION WERE THE LABOR AND ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM LAWS OF 1991 IN A HARD FOUGHT RACE HE WON THE GOVERNORSHIP OF HIS HOME DEPARTMENT IN OCTOBER 1994 AND WAS INSTALLED JANUARY 2 1995 BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY 1952 URIBE VELEZ WAS THE RECIPIENT OF A UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2013-01203 Doc No C17423238 Date 10 05 2017 UNCLASSIFIED -U S Department of State Case No M-2013-01203 Doc No C17423238 Date 10 05 2017 VOLUNTARY VISITOR PROGRAM FOR COLOMBIA IN 1988 AND SUBSEQUENTLY TOOK A SIX-MONTH COURSE IN THE HARVARD UNIVERSITY BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM HE TOLD THE AMBASSADOR THAT HE HAS INVITED PROFESSOR ROGER FISHER OF HARVARD TO COME TO MEDELLIN IN APRIL TO CONDUCT A CONFLICT RESOLUTION SEMINAR FOR SOME 200 COMMUNITY LEADERS BASED ON THE HIS WIDELY RECOGNIZED GETTING TO YES TECHNIQUE GOVERNOR INVITED A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE EMBASSY TO ATTEND URIBE IS MARRIED TO THE FORMER LINA MARIA THE SEMINAR MORENO AND HAS TWO SONS TOMAS AND JERONIMO 15 LIKE MANY PROMINENT COLOMBIAN POLITICIANS URIBE VELEZ IS SUSPECTED OF HAVING HAD PERIPHERAL INVOLVEMENT WITH CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL 03 OF 03 212159Z PAGE 04 BOGOTA 03714 COLOMBIA'S NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING INDUSTRY EMBASSY REPORTING FROM 1992 DESCRIBES URIBE'S UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO NOMINATE IN A PARTY CAUCUS A PERSON ASSOCIATED WITH A KNOWN NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING FAMILY AS LIBERAL CANDIDATE FOR THE MAYORALITY ELECTIONS IN MEDELLIN WHEN THAT EFFORT FAILED ACCORDING TO THE REPORT URIBE THEN PROPOSED THE CANDIDACY OF AN UNCLE OF DECEASED MEDELLIN NARCOTICS CZAR PABLO ESCOBAR GAVIRIA WHICH WAS ALSO SHOT DOWN ACCORDING TO ANOTHER EMBASSY REPORT IN 1993 URIBE AND TWO OTHERS MET WITH THE WIFE OF NARCOTICS CAPO PABLO ESCOBAR TO TRY TO NEGOTIATE HIS SURRENDER A MEETING FACILITATED BY URIBE'S ALLEGED ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE FAMILY ANOTHER LIBERAL PARTY POLITICIAN TOLD THE REPORTING OFFICER THAT URIBE IS RELQD TO THE OCHOA VAZQUEZ FAMILY SOME OF WHOSE MEMBERS ARE CURRENTLY SERVING TIME ON NARCOTICS CONVICTIONS THAT URIBE RECEIVED CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THEM AND THAT HE FEARED FOR HIS LIFE FOR NOT HAVING DELIVERED FRECHETTE UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2013-01203 Doc No C17423238 Date 10 05 2017 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2013-01203 Doc No C17423238 Date 10 05 2017 CONFIDENTIAL NNNN UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2013-01203 Doc No 017423238 Date 10 05 201'7 This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu