VZCZCXYZ0006
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #2105/01 1631608
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 111608Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3129
INFO RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 2471
RUCNSE/US SECRET SERVICE WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS BOGOTA 002105 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR WHA/AND AND L/ETHICS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: OVIP MCCAIN JOHN APER ASEC CO
SUBJECT:  SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN'S REQUEST FOR EMBASSY ASSISTANCE FOR 
JULY 1-2 TRIP TO COLOMBIA 
 
REF:  SECSTATE 50554 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary and Action Request:  Senator John McCain's Senate 
office informed Post on June 10, 2008 that the Senator intends to 
visit Cartagena, Colombia at GOC invitation from July 1-2, 2008. 
The office classifies the visit as a "campaign trip" not a CODEL. 
The Senator's office, dealing directly with the GOC on scheduling, 
suggested Post support in the areas of security, press, and an 
Embassy briefing.  Post seeks approval and guidance from Washington 
to assist the Senator's office per reftel.  End Summary and Action 
Request. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Senator McCain intends to visit Cartagena, Colombia from 
July 1-2, 2008.  The Senator's office classifies this trip as 
campaign related, not a CODEL, and provided the following tentative 
schedule: 
 
Tuesday, July 1 
--------------- 
 
1730  Wheels down Cartagena, Colombia 
 
1900  Private dinner hosted by President Uribe with several -- 
members of his government 
 
Wednesday, July 2 
----------------- 
 
a.m.  Breakfast or meeting with the Foreign Minister 
 
a.m.  Tour the Port of Cartagena and ride in a Midnight 
--  Express anti-drug fast boat operated by the Colombian --  Navy 
 
a.m.  Press conference 
 
Noon  Lunch with the US-Colombian business community 
 
1400  Wheels up 
 
REQUESTED EMBASSY SUPPORT 
------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The Senator's office says it will accept whatever 
determinations are made by the Department of State's L/Ethics office 
and White House Counsel, in accordance with reftel.  The Senator's 
office suggested Embassy support in three areas: 
 
a.   Security.  The United States Secret Service (USSS) provides 
security for the Senator.  The USSS Attache in Bogota is already 
working with the other relevant USSS offices and detail.  Security 
appears to fall under the exception found in paragraph 6 of reftel 
and could also encompass airport assistance, hotel lodging support, 
and transportation. 
 
EMBASSY RECOMMENDATION:  The Department of State and White House 
authorize the Embassy to provide any support requested by the USSS 
related to security, including airport services, lodging, and 
transportation, subject to full reimbursement by the McCain 
Campaign. 
 
b.   Press.  The McCain Campaign's interest in press assistance 
falls into three general categories related to a press conference: 
identifying, inviting, and screening Colombian and international 
media; arranging for a press conference site; and providing 
equipment and operators for a press conference.  Such support would 
require moving both personnel and equipment to Cartagena from 
Bogota. 
 
EMBASSY RECOMMENDATION:  The Department of State and White House 
authorize the Embassy to provide support in screening media and 
obtaining a press conference site, tied to the security exception in 
reftel and subject to full reimbursement by McCain Campaign.  The 
Embassy can provide equipment and operators if so authorized by the 
Department of State and White House, with full McCain Campaign 
reimbursement. 
 
c.   Embassy briefing.  The McCain Campaign suggests the Ambassador 
brief the Senator on Colombia issues at the start of the visit. 
President Uribe will likely invite the Ambassador to his dinner on 
July 1 and will state that the dinner is private in nature and 
limited to members of his government. 
 
EMBASSY RECOMMENDATION:  The Department of State and White House 
authorize the Ambassador to meet the Senator on arrival in 
Cartagena, provide the standard CODEL briefing prior to the dinner, 
and accept President Uribe's invitation to the private dinner with 
members of his government.  The Ambassador does not plan to 
participate in any public events beyond arrival at the airport, 
 
plans to avoid all public commentary during the visit, and does not 
plan to participate in any events on July 2, unless otherwise 
instructed. 
 
¶4. (SBU) The Embassy would offer the same recommendations and 
services to the presidential campaign of any other major candidate. 
As we are less than three weeks away from this visit, we request 
Department guidance as soon as possible. 
 
BROWNFIELD