VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #8640/01 3552120
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 212120Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0618
INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 9697
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 5733
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA 1003
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 6437

UNCLAS BOGOTA 008640 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EAID PGOV MARR CO
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD,S DECEMBER 13 VISIT TO 
BARRANQUILLA 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary.  The Ambassador visited Barranquilla, 
capital of Atlantico Department on December 13 for meetings 
with Governor Carlos Rodado, ranking regional military 
Commander Colonel Carlos Bueno, and public outreach 
audiences.  Rodado expressed his support for the 
U.S.-Colombian Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA) and his 
presidential aspirations.  The Ambassador participated in a 
baseball clinic with Major League Baseball (MLB) star Edgar 
Renteria, the inauguration of a housing project, and a tour 
of the bi-national center, Centro Colombo Americano all 
receiving extensive media coverage.  Embassy delegation found 
a city enjoying an economic boom fueled partly by capital 
flight from Venezuela, an IDP population that has stabilized 
over the last three years, high regard for its outgoing and 
hope that the next mayor will be better than the incumbent, 
and a general sense of optimism for the future.  End Summary. 
 
------------------------------------ 
ECONOMY EXPANDS AS SECURITY IMPROVES 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Ambassador Brownfield met with Rodado (Conservative 
Party) who will leave office on December 31.  Rodado, who is 
well-regarded for initiating a wave of investments in the 
region, expressed his strong support for the CTPA.  He 
stressed that increased U.S. demand for manufactured goods 
would create tremendous opportunities for his department.  In 
the past year, 110 companies either established or expanded 
their operations in Barranquilla, generating 16,700 jobs. 
This includes a large number of Venezuelan companies that 
fled to Colombia in fear of expropriations.  Rodado said that 
Colombian and Venezuelan business sectors have a robust 
relationship, dismissing Chavez,s threats to cut economic 
ties with Colombia as unrealistic.  Finally, Rodado declared 
that upon departure he intends to pursue the Presidency of 
Colombia.  He said he feels as prepared as any other 
potential candidate and noted that Colombia has not had a 
President from the Caribbean region during the 20th century. 
 
¶3.  (U) Rodado also welcomed the Ambassador to the 
Barranquilla American Chamber of Commerce, noting the strong 
historical relationship between Barranquilla and the United 
States.  In his remarks, to the 100 luncheon guests, the 
Ambassador called the Amcham one of the most important 
pillars in the U.S.-Colombia relationship.  The Ambassador 
emphasized the USG,s commitment to securing approval of the 
CTPA, and requested the Amcham,s support in explaining the 
benefits to both countries.  He further expressed USG 
interest in broadening the bilateral relationship beyond 
counternarcotics and security to include deeper economic, 
education, human rights, humanitarian, and social 
cooperation.  The Ambassador concluded by stressing the 
importance of corporate social responsibility programs. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Colonel Carlos Bueno, Commander of Regional Air 
Command three, gave the Ambassador a one-hour tour of the 
regional Air Force facilities and briefed the Ambassador on 
Colombian military operations along the Caribbean coast. 
Bueno showed the Ambassador the new Brazilian made (with 60 
percent U.S. components) A-29 Super Tucano combat aircraft. 
 
--------------------------- 
OUTREACH AND MEDIA COVERAGE 
--------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (U) Ambassador inaugurated 200 new or refurbished homes 
for displaced and vulnerable families in the Pinar del Rio 
barrio of Barranquilla.  A USD 280,000 grant from USAID to 
the local NGO &Opcion Vida8 (Life Option) helped pay for 
the work that benefited many Afro-Colombian families.  The 
Barranquilla mayors office, through the GOC,s Banco 
Inmobiliario (Housing Bank) and the Office of the 
President,s &Accion Social8, also contributed to the 
initiative.  Press coverage was substantial, and the event 
was carried by most regional media. 
 
¶6.  (U) The Ambassador toured the Centro Colombo Americano 
where he stressed his support for the bi-national center 
noting that it serves as a nexus for educational and cultural 
interaction, spoke with 30 English language students, and 
held a live press conference with local media. 
 
¶7.  (U) MLB, the Amcham, and the Renteria Brothers, Baseball 
academy hosted a baseball clinic for 60 local youth.  MLB 
star Edgar Renteria and the Ambassador threw-out the two 
opening pitches, and both gave the youth signed baseballs and 
hats donated by MLB International.  The event, which included 
many parents and media, provided an opportunity to draw the 
 
link between U.S. and Colombian North Coast enthusiasm for 
baseball.  Ambassador,s pitch was a 90 mile per hour curve 
that just caught the outside corner for a called strike. 
Renteria, whose hit won the 1997 World Series for Florida was 
grateful that he never had to bat against the Ambassador. 
Brownfield