VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #1441/01 1082207
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 172207Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2428
INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0269
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 6112
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA 1520
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 6763

UNCLAS BOGOTA 001441 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV ECON PREL ASEC EAGR ETRD EAID SOCI CO
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S APRIL 2 VISIT TO CARTAGENA 
 
 
Summary 
 
¶1. The Ambassador visited Cartagena, capital of 
the Department of Bolivar, to attend a bilateral summit 
between the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the 
Colombian Navy (COLNAV), meet with the Mayor of Cartagena 
And the Governor of the Department of Bolivar, and visit a 
Little league baseball team and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) 
assistance center in poor neighborhoods.  The bilateral summit 
addressed the importance of USCG and COLNAV collaboration.  The 
Governor and the Mayor underscored the importance of cooperation 
between Embassy Bogota and the leadership of the region in promoting 
tourism and regional economic development, strengthening regional 
security, and solving the problems of the displaced population in 
the area. Both advocated  the opening of the U.S/. Embassy branch 
office in Cartagena.  Local press coverage was heavy and positive. 
End summary. 
 
 
USCG and COLNAV Combat Trafficking on the Open Seas 
 
 
 
¶2. Representatives from the USCG,headed by USCG 
Commandant Admiral Thad W. Allen, Mexico, Panama, and COLNAV's 
Commandant Admiral Barrera, Admiral Cely, and  their staffs attended 
the summit. Expected representatives 
from Ecuador did not attend because of the recent border 
tensions between the GOC and GOE. The summit focused on 
solving working-level problems to continuously improve 
joint, combined counter-drug operations and improved 
communication. The summit examined current trafficking 
trends that demand cooperation and use of new technology 
such as biometrics for the identification of suspects at 
sea. 
 
A U.S. Embassy Presence in Cartagena Would Help Colombia 
 
 
¶3. At a meeting hosted by the Mayor Judith Pinedo in her 
office, mayor Pinedo acknowledged the prospective positive 
impact of the U.S. - Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement 
on Cartagena. She stated that the city had tremendous 
potential as a commercial port, tourist destination and a 
business center, but needed improved infrastructure and 
security in order to increase number of visitors and 
attract more international business. The Mayor stated that 
an expanded U.S. presence  in Cartagena would be crucial to 
promoting the city, as it would demonstrate growing U.S. confidence 
in Colombia that would lead to an improvement in 
Colombia's international image. The Ambassador agreed that 
there are valid reasons for considering the establishment 
of a U.S. Embassy branch office I Cartagena including the 
city's positive changes in recent years, the presence of 
over 1000 American citizens in the city, hundreds of 
thousands of U.S. tourists, and the importance of the Cartagena port 
for the whole Andean region. 
 
¶4. The Ambassador suggested that discussions about the 
opening of an Embassy branch office could take place 
between the GOC and the U.S. Embassy, but stated that if 
there were such a decision it should be carefully timed to 
provide maximum benefit to U.S. - Colombian relations and to 
maximize the promotion of  Cartagena And the entire 
Caribbean region of Colombia. 
 
¶5. The Governor of Bolivar, Joaco Berrio, thanked the 
Ambassador for the U.S. Agency for International 
Development's (USAID) assistance through the high-profile 
Alternative Development and Municipal Strengthening program 
(ADAM). USAID's efforts assisted in the creation of small 
business and generated economic opportunities for over 
4,000 families. Governor Berrio asked for a continuation 
of this program. 
 
Showing America's Friendly Face 
 
¶6. The Ambassador and USCG Commandant visited an 
underprivileged neighborhood of Cartagena and me t with 
members of the Bravitos baseball club, ages 6-14, at a 
baseball field that the USCG and COLNAV had rejuvenated 
several months earlier with USAID assistance. After 
throwing out a ceremonial pitch clocked at 94 mile s per 
hour and just nicking the outside corner, the Ambassador 
joined Admiral Allen in distributing sports equipment 
generously donated by Major League Baseball. The 
Ambassador talked to the children, demonstrated proper 
batting techniques, and emphasized the importance of sports 
education in promoting teamwork, respect, And other 
important skills that will help the youth of Colombia to succeed in 
all aspects of their lives and allow their community to prosper. 
Cartagena's major newspaper, El 
Universal, gave extensive and positive coverage to the 
Ambassador's visit with the Bravitos, publishing a large 
color photo of the Ambassador's change-up pitch on its 
front page. All major Colombian print and broadcast media 
reported on the visit, including a front page above-the- 
fold picture of COLNAV Commander Admiral Barrera throwing a 
pitch (AMB note: which hit a cameraman in the head), in El 
Tiempo, the major national daily. 
 
¶7. The Ambassador closed his trip by touring Action for 
Bolivar (ACTUAR), one of the most prominent NGOs working in and 
around Cartagena. Since 2001, USAID has provided 
nearly one million dollars to ACTUAR to assist IDPs and 
other vulnerable populations in the areas of health, education, 
training, and income generation. During a 
round-table discussion with ACTUAR's founders and board members, the 
Ambassador underlined the USG commitment to 
helping Colombia's IDPs, and expressed his appreciation for 
ACTUAR's work in improving the lives of local families and 
their community. 
 
BROWNFIELD