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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 001168 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INL/FO, INL/PC, EUR/ERA, L/LEI; 
JUSTICE FOR CRIMINAL DIVISION, OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL 
AFFAIRS; 
DIR ONDCP FOR OSR; 
DEA HQS FOR OG, OGE; 
LA PAX FOR DCM, NAS, DEA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/2016 
TAGS: KCRM PGOV PREL SNAR EUM
SUBJECT: DELIVERY OF LETTER ON COMMISSION-FUNDED 
INITIATIVES IN BOLIVIA 
 
REF: A. PALA-MCANULTY E-MAIL OF JULY 24 
     ¶B. MCANULTY-MCCAMPBELL E-MAIL OF JULY 17 
     ¶C. MCCAMPBELL-MCANULTY E-MAIL OF JULY 15 
     ¶D. BRUSSELS 0117 
 
Classified By: INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT 
AFFAIRS (INL) COUNSELOR JAMES P. MCANULTY FOR REASONS 
1.4 (B) AND (D) 
 
------------------ 
DELIVERY OF LETTER 
------------------ 
 
¶1.  (C) Mission International Narcotics and Law Enforcement 
Affairs (INL) Counselor delivered a scanned copy of the 
letter signed by INL Assistant Secretary David Johnson 
regarding two European Commission-funded initiatives in 
Bolivia (REFs A to C) on July 29 to Commission Head of Unit 
Carel Edwards of the Drugs Coordination Unit.  INL Counselor 
briefly mentioned U.S. concerns over recent public statements 
by senior Bolivian officials that contradicted U.S. and EU 
views on the scope of the Commission-funded study and 
development project in Bolivia. 
 
¶2. (C) Edwards read the letter carefully in the presence of 
INL Counselor and indicated that he would forward it to the 
Commission Foreign Relations (RELEX) office responsible for 
issues involving Bolivia for a formal response.  Speaking 
informally, Edwards said he understood U.S. concerns over the 
Bolivian statements and recalled a comment by a U.S. 
Delegation member (specifically, INL Deputy Assistant 
Secretary Christy McCampbell) at the recent U.S.-EU Troika 
Meeting on Drug Issues (REF D) noting that continued EU 
silence could be interpreted by Bolivian officials as assent. 
  He sympathized with this view.  Edwards (protect) remarked 
that Commission officials generally held a "soft" attitude 
towards such statements, as did technical experts involved in 
helping to implement the coca leaf study in Bolivia.  He 
noted, however, that even such experts, who viewed the coca 
leaf issue in a largely academic fashion, have witnessed some 
negative developments in Bolivia, including possible pressure 
to skew the study's results.  He remarked that U.S. concerns 
on this issue were also becoming EU concerns as well. 
 
 
¶3. (U) INL Counselor will forward the formal EU response upon 
receipt.  U.S. Mission notes, however, that many Commission 
members have started their summer vacation, which may delay 
completion of the formal response. 
 
----------------------------- 
COMMENTS ON OTHER DRUG ISSUES 
----------------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) On separate drug issues, Edwards agreed with INL 
Counselor's observation that, with the exception of our 
approaches towards lack of Bolivian and Venezuelan 
counter-drug cooperation, the recent U.S.-EU Troika Meeting 
on Drug Issues had demonstrated considerable transatlantic 
convergence on drug issues.  Edwards observed that even the 
Dutch, who have a reputation for leniency towards drug use, 
had cracked down in certain areas, including instituting 
checks of all passengers arriving at Schipol Airport from 
certain drug-producing or transit regions, such as the 
Caribbean, to detect individuals attempting to transport 
drugs into the country.  Even French authorities, he averred, 
would be reluctant to implement such a draconian approach at 
their international airports.  He commented that marijuana 
production had become an increasing problem in some European 
countries.  Organized crime figures have infiltrated the drug 
business in The Netherlands, where the Dutch traditionally 
prided themselves on their agricultural prowess (on both 
legal and illicit crops).  Unfortunately, ordinary citizens, 
particularly those with limited means, such as elderly, have 
experienced intense pressure to permit cultivation of 
marijuana in their attics.  Such a trend has occasionally 
produced dangerous conditions, as indoor cultivation required 
 
BRUSSELS 00001168  002 OF 002 
 
 
considerable electrical power and generated excessive heat, 
which could be detected by police patrol helicopters. 
Edwards noted that marijuana cultivation had also lately 
become quite prevalent in certain parts of France. 
 
SILVERBERG 
.