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C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 007645 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PASS TO USTR, USDA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2016 
TAGS: ETRD PGOV CO XR CU
SUBJECT: SECRETARIES PAULSON, GUTIERREZ MEET WITH PRESIDENT 
URIBE 
 
REF: LIMA 03103 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
 ¶1. (C) SUMMARY.  President Uribe proposed that U.S. and 
Colombian trade associations meet as soon as possible to 
resolve a Colombian limit on imports of U.S. beef due to 
concerns about Mad Cow Disease.  The Colombians urged the 
U.S. to seek approval of the FTA by Congress before ATPDEA 
provisions expire in December.  Uribe supported cautious, 
constructive change in Cuba, and said Colombia wanted to work 
with the U.S. on a transition.  The Colombians encouraged 
engagement by the U.S. in Nicaragua, Ecuador and Bolivia to 
further common policy objectives in the region.  They also 
requested U.S. support to achieve an investment grade credit 
rating for Colombia and for additional help on counter 
narcotics efforts.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (C) Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson, Secretary of 
Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, Ambassador William Wood, Assistant 
Secretary of State for Latin America Thomas Shannon, and DOC 
 
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DAS Walter Bastian met with President Alvaro Uribe on August 
7, immediately following his inauguration ceremony. 
President Uribe was joined in the meeting by Min. of 
Agriculture and Rural Development Andres Arias; Min. of 
Commerce, Industry and Tourism Jorge Botero; Min. of Finance 
Alberto Carrasquilla; Foreign Minister Maria Araujo; and 
Ambassador-designate to the U.S. Carolina Barco.  Uribe 
opened the meeting thanking President Bush and the U.S. 
delegation, stating &the long term support of the U.S. 
Government to Colombia has helped us convert our hopes into 
reality.8 
 
A BEEF OVER IMPORTS OF U.S. BEEF 
 
¶3. (C) Secretary Gutierrez expressed the U.S. desire to move 
forward with the FTA notification to Congress.  He noted, 
however, that he would not be able to recommend the agreement 
until there was a resolution to a Colombian ban on imports of 
U.S. beef from animals older than 30 months, imposed due to 
Colombian concerns over BSE, or Mad Cow Disease.  Min. of 
Agriculture Arias stated Colombia,s ban on imports was due 
to scientific concerns over the risk to human health, and the 
threat to Colombia,s status as a BSE-free country.  He 
emphasized the GOC,s responsibility to protect the health of 
its citizens and the health of its domestic industry.  He 
said the U.S. imposed a similar limit on Canadian beef of 
more than 30 months following an incident of BSE in Canada, 
stating &it is politically unfeasible for us to back down 
from a trade policy which the U.S. applies to its own trade 
partners.8  Arias justified the GOC ban stating that the 
side letter signed on February 6 on beef imports allowed 
special consideration where human health was concerned. 
 
¶4. (C) Secretary Gutierrez responded that the issue with 
Canada was separate.  He emphasized that the U.S. had found 
no scientific basis to limit domestic consumption of beef 
from animals older than 30 months for its own citizens, and 
that the U.S. was not holding Colombia to a standard that we 
did not accept in our own country.  He noted, &We eat beef 
from animals over 30 months.8  Uribe explained, &We cannot 
contradict a scientific assessment,8 but he emphasized his 
willingness to solve the issue.  He proposed that the two 
countries, industry associations meet immediately, and 
submit the question of potential health risk in beef from 
animals older than 30 months to a neutral, third party for an 
independent scientific assessment. 
 
COMMITMENT TO FTA APPROVAL 
 
¶5. (C) Uribe expressed the GOC,s desire to move ahead with 
notification of the FTA to Congress, while the two countries 
worked to resolve the stalemate over beef.  With ATPDEA trade 
preferences set to expire in December, he explained, Colombia 
was eager to see notification take place as soon as possible 
to enable a vote for approval during a lame duck session of 
Congress.  If Congress were not notified until they returned 
from recess in September, the Colombians feared ATPDEA might 
expire before approval.  Gutierrez and Paulson reminded the 
Colombians of the general opposition to trade agreements in 
Congress, citing CAFTA,s passage by only two votes. 
 
Secretary Gutierrez stated his responsibility was to see the 
 
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FTA presented to Congress in the best possible environment 
for approval, but if he notified Congress without industry 
agreement on the beef issue, opposition members could make 
the FTA a political issue in the fall election, risking its 
defeat. 
 
¶6. (C) Secretary Paulson assured the Colombians that the FTA 
was an important agreement for both countries, and that 
regardless of the timing of approval, &we will get it 
done.8  He affirmed that each side had political risks, and 
would need to manage its own political process.  Uribe 
reiterated his proposal to have the industry associations 
meet as soon as possible, committing Ministers Arias and 
Botero to the negotiations if need be.  The U.S. delegation 
accepted this proposal. 
 
COLOMBIANS URGE CAUTIOUS, CONSTRUCTIVE TRANSITION IN CUBA 
 
¶7. (C) Secretary Paulson noted that with Fidel Castro,s 
health problem, Colombian support for constructive change 
could be very useful at this time.  President Uribe 
reiterated his position from the July 27 meeting with 
Secretary Gutierrez in Lima (See Reftel).  &I should be the 
 
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worst enemy of the Cuban regime, due to our fight against 
terrorism here in Colombia.  But I have built a constructive 
relationship with Cuba.8  He noted Castro,s withdrawal of 
support for guerilla groups operating in Colombia, and his 
role in facilitating the peace talks with the ELN. 
Furthermore, he stated the only way to have a constructive 
relationship with Venezuela was through Cuba, noting that 
President Chavez only listens to Castro.  He reiterated that 
although Colombia had a long history of involvement in the 
Non-Aligned Movement, they would not attend the next NAM 
meeting in Havana.  He cautioned &In the case of Cuba we 
must be careful.  We cannot push the society in a destructive 
manner.8  He asked the U.S. to consider how the Colombians 
might support positive transition in Cuba. 
 
COLOMBIAN PERSPECTIVE ON U.S. RELATIONS IN REGION 
 
¶8. (C) President Uribe expressed concern over regional 
elections in Nicaragua and Ecuador.  He noted that Chavez was 
sending money to the Sandanistas, and that the margin between 
Montealegre and Ortega was very slim.  He encouraged the U.S. 
to counter the Chavez effort by encouraging greater support 
from the private sector.  He said the U.S. appeared to have 
burned some bridges in its relationship with Ecuador, but 
that they could be rebuilt.  He defended Ecuadorian President 
Palacios who he described as &a supporter of democracy and 
stability in his country who has maintained an anti-Chavez 
stance.8  He encouraged the U.S. to engage the Ecuadorians 
to positively impact the upcoming elections there.  The 
Colombians expressed concern about the impact of the 
expiration of ATPDEA trade preferences on Bolivia. 
Ambassador-designate Barco noted that social turmoil in 
Bolivia could cascade to Peru and Ecuador, where links among 
the indigenous communities are strong.  President Uribe 
stated, &I have told President Morales that he cannot insult 
the U.S. Government and expect an extension of trade 
preferences, and that he will not lose his credentials as a 
Bolivarian Revolutionary by being a friend of the U.S.8 
 
¶9. (C) President Uribe noted his administration,s efforts to 
reform the financial sector, promote tax reform, and revise 
regional revenue transfers, but requested the support of 
Secretary Paulson to achieve an investment grade credit 
 
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rating for Colombia.  Secretary Paulson affirmed his full 
support for this.  Uribe also emphasized his credentials in 
the fight on drugs, noting his decision to extend spraying to 
La Macarena National Park following the killing of manual 
eradication workers there, and his record of support for 
extradition.  He expressed concern that in spite of his 
efforts, recent reports showed drug production in Colombia 
may actually have increased.  He reiterated a Colombian 
request to President Bush for 24 more helicopters, not only 
to support the eradication effort, but to go after the 
ringleaders of narco-trafficking.  He noted, &the U.S. has 
spent many resources in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Here in 
Colombia we have demonstrated the political will to address 
our common issues.  Can you bring resources from Iraq to help 
 
us find the ringleaders here in Colombia?8  The U.S. 
delegation affirmed that the request for additional 
helicopters was heard. 
 
¶10. (C) Note, Treasury Secretary Paulson was unable to clear 
this cable before leaving country. 
WOOD