UNCLASSIFIED E21 PTQ6334 RELEASED IN PART CONFIDENTIAL PTQ6334 PAGE 01 BOGOTA 03714 01 OF 03 212159Z ACTION ARA-01 INFO ACDA-17 ACDE-OO AID-01 CIAE-OO OASY-OO DOEE-OO TEDE-OO INR-OO JUSE-OO LAB-01 ADS-00 M-OO NSCE-OO OIC-02 OMB-01 PM-OO SP-OO SRHOO SS-OO TRSE-OO T-OO PMB-OO DRL-09 USIE-OO --B2EBAO 2121592 38 212153Z MAR 95 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA T0 SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8175 INFO AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY AMEMBASSY QUITO USCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS PM AMEMBASSY LIMA AMEMBASSY LA PAZ I I A SECTION 01 OF 03 BOGOTA 003714 E O 12356 TAGS PGOV PREL PHUM PINR SEAR co SUBJECT MEETING WITH GOVERNOR OF ANTIOQUIA REF BOGOTA 3345 1 CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE-TEXT CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 BOGOTA 03714 01 OF 03 212159Z SUMMARY UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE REVIEW AUTHORITY JAMES COOPER CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL REASON DECLASSIFY AFTER 20 MAR 2020 ID 15 MAY 2009 200705928 UNCLASSIFIED FBIE-OO STE-01 G-OO UNCLASSIFIED 2 IN CONJUNCTION WITH A VISIT TO MEDELLIN ORGANIZED BY 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 ANTIOQUIA 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 ANTIOQUIA 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 ANTIOQUIA 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 SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE 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 212159Z 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 ANTIOQUIA AND THAT DEFENSE MINISTER BOTERO HAS ASSURED HIM THAT ERADICATION WILL BE GIVEN TOP PRIORITY IN THE NATIONAL 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 TO ASSIST DEPARTMENTAL GOVERNMENTS BUT COULD INFORMATION AND ASSURED THE GOVERNOR THAT THE USG WAS BEHIND HIS EFFORTS ALL THE WAY HE ADDED THAT THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES FOR THE GOC AND FOR COLOMBIA OF DECERTIFICATION FOR POOR PERFORMANCE WOULD BE SERIOUS AND DESCRIBED THEM IN SOME DETAIL 4 IN RESPONSE TO THE INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 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 SHARING THE AMBASSADOR POINTED OUT THE NEED FOR BETTER 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 PAGE 04 BOGOTA 03714 01 OF 03 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 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 m BE ACGOMPLISHED 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 ABILITY TO REACH ITS ERADICATION OBJECTIVES FINALLY HE SPECULATED THAT CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PT96335 PAGE 01 BOGOTA 03714 02 OF 03 2121592 ACTION ARA-01 INFO Loewoo ACDE-OO CIAE-OO INL-OZ OASY400 DIRT-01 DODE-OO DOEE-OO H-01 TEDE-OO INR-OO 10-10 LAB-01 ADS-00 M-OO NSAE-OO OIC-02 OMB-01 PM-OO pas 01 SR oo ss oo m oo USIE-OO DEL-09 054w 2121592 38 212153Z MAR 95 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8176 INFO AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY AMEMBASSY QUITO USCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS PM AMEMBASSY LIMA AMEMBASSY LA RAZ I I A SECTION 02 OF 03 BOGOTA 003714 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED DEAE-OO 3 00 UNCLASSIFIED E O 12356 PGOV PREL PHUM PINR SNAR CO SUBJECT MEETING WITH GOVERNOR OF ANTIOQUIA PRESIDENT FOUR-NATION VISIT TO EUROPE WHICH ENDED MARCH 14 MAY PROVIDE HIM WITH A MORE ACCURATE VISION OF EUROPEAN ATTITUDES TOWARD DRUG PROBLEM AND MDRE REALISM IN SETTING AND MEETING ANTI-NARCOTICS GOALS CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 BOGOTA '03714 02 OF 03 2121592 7 RETURNING TO THE CERTIFICATION ISSUE THE AMBASSADOR STRESSED T0 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 A DECERTIFICATION WHICH WOULD BE CONSIDERABLE THE AMBASSADOR EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THIS YEAR OUR TWO GOVERNMENTS WILL BE ABLE TO OUR ANTI-NARCOTICS COOPERATION IN ORDER TO MAKE IT FAR MORE EFFECTIVE 8 ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE 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 PROCESS AND SEIZE THE MOMENT THE AMBASSADOR STRESSED THE 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 9 THE AMBASSADOR TOLD THE GOVERNOR THAT INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST NARCOTICS TRAFFICKERS RECENTLY STRESSED BY THE GOC IN ITS REACTION TO THE UNCLASSIFIED CERTIFICATION DECISION WILL DEPEND ON COMPLYING CONFIDENTIAL UNCLASSIFIED 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 ASSETS FROM NARCOTICS TRAFFICKERS HE STRESSED THAT 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 REMARKS GOVERNOR URIBE MADE A BLUNT APPEAL FOR DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO THE DEPARTMENTAL GOVERNMENT OF ANTIOQUIA IN MEETING THE CHALLENGE POSED BY THE UNHOLY ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE TRAFFICKERS AND GUERRILLA ORGANIZATIONS CHARACTERIZING THEM AS HE SAID THAT AS A LEFTIST LEANING STUDENT IN THE LATE 60$ 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 ANTIOQUIA 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 CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 BOGOTA 03714 02 OF 03 212159Z THAT THE POLICE NEED DESPATCHING EQUIPMENT RADIOS AND VEHICLES TO MEET THE CHALLENGE OF AND ASSISTANCE IN MOUNTING SOCIAL SOLIDARITY PROGRAMS THAT WILL REDUCE THE APPEAL OF THE TRAFFICKERS THE GUERRILLAS AND THE ORDINARY DELINQUENTS FOR DESPERATE YOUTH 12 THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE OFFICE THEN PROCEEDED TO EXPLAIN AN ELABORATE SERIES OF CHARTS THAT HAD BEEN PREPARED TO DESCRIBE THE STRATEGY FOR COMBATTING DELINQUENCY TERRORISM AND CRIME IN ANTIOQUIA THESE INCLUDE HOT LINES 800 NUMBERS AND SPECIAL MAIL BOXES TO DENOUNCE STRENGTHENING OF THE 124 MUNICIPAL LOBBYING FOR THE CREATION OF A SPECIAL ANTI-TERRORISMIMILITARY UNIT AT THE RIO NEGRO INTERNATIONAL 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 CONFIDENTIAL PTQ6336 UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 61 BOGOTA 03714 03 OF 03 2121592 UNCLASSIFIED ACTION ARA-01 INFO LOG-00 ACDA-17 ACDETOO AID-01 CIAE-OO INL-02 DEAE-OO OASY-OO DODE-OO DOEE-OO FBIE-OO TEDE-OO IO-10 JUSE-OO LAB-01 ADS-00 NSAE-OO NSCE-OO 0IC-02 OMB-01 SR-OO TRSE-OO T-OO USIE-OO PMB-OO DRL-OQ G-OO --BZEBAC 2122002 38 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 I I A SECTION 03 OF 03 BOGOTA 003714 E o 12356 TAGS PGOV PREL PHUM PINR SNAR co SUBJECT MEETING WITH GOVERNOR OF ANTIOQUIA NOTING THAT THERE ARE OVER 200 000 FAMILIES IN ANTIOQUIA 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 ILL-PREPARED TO DEAL WITH AS MINORS THERE IS LITTLE TH THE COURTS CAN DO BUT RELEASE THEM WHILE THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO OFFER REHABILITATION AND OPPORTUNITIES TO GET THESE KIDS OFF THE STREETS FINALLY IN THE JUDICIAL AREA THE GOVERNOR 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 TOLERANCE HE LAMENTED THAT THE FISCALIA IN HIS VIEW HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY INEFFICIENT IN FULFILLING ITS NEW MANDATE UNDER THE 1991 CHARTER A YOUNG LEADER WITH A ROSY FUTURE 14 URIBE 42 WAS THE TOUNGEST MAYOR IN HISTORY AND B1 IS A BRIGHT STAR IN THE LIBERAL PARTY 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 212159Z 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 MOST PROMISING YOUNG EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR IN 1982 HE WAS APPOINTED MAYOR OF MEDELLIN AT A TIME WHEN SECOND LARGEST CITY WAS FACING WHAT WAS PERHAPS ITS WORST ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL CRISIS OF THE CENTURY HE WAS ASKED TO RESIGN BY THE GOVERNOR FOUR MONTHS LATER URIBE RETURNED TO BOGOTA IN EARLY 1983 AND WAS APPOINTED VICE MINISTER OF LABOR BY TURBAY AYALA SUBSEQUENTLY HE WAS ELECTED SENATOR FOR ANTIOQUIA 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 VISITOR PROGRAM FOR COLOMBIA IN 1988 AND UNCLASSIFIED 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 HIS WIDELY RECOGNIZED To TECHNIQUE THE GOVERNOR INVITED A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE EMBASSY To ATTEND THE SEMINAR URIBE IS MARRIED To THE FORMER LINA MARIA MORENO AND HAS TWO SONS TOMAS AND JERONIMO B1 FEE UNCLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL UNCLASSIFIED 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