VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #0257/01 0271454
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 271454Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6702
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 8598
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1567
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 6929
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA 2918
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 7627
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

UNCLAS BOGOTA 000257 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR: WHA/MWELLS; WHA/PDA FOR JOHN DICKSON, CHARLOTTE PETERSON, 
IIP/WHA FOR PETER COZZENS, LAC/SA FOR LAURA MCKECHNIE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO PREL PHUM ECIN EAID PGOV CO
SUBJECT:  PRESIDENT OBAMA'S INAUGURATION RECEIVES BROAD, 
ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT FROM COLOMBIANS 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  Reaction to the Inauguration of President Obama as 
reflected by the extensive and very positive media coverage for the 
new administration, as well as comment from our contacts, has been 
uniformly positive in Colombia.  President Uribe and numerous 
Colombian government officials have welcomed President Obama's 
inauguration and looked forward to continued close relations with 
the United States.  The focus so far has been on how Colombia-U.S. 
relations might change, particularly in regards to human rights, the 
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and U.S. assistance under Plan Colombia. 
The Ambassador hosted an Inauguration Day event at his residence on 
January 20, inviting a diverse group of over 200 guests to observe 
the swearing-in ceremony.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  In his January 23 remarks to the full diplomatic corps, 
President Alvaro Uribe stated that he viewed President Obama's 
inauguration with the most positive hopes and that he expected to 
maintain the great alliance between the United States and Colombia 
in the future.  President Uribe continued that he hoped that 
Colombia could serve as a bridge to promote understanding between 
the United States and the region.  Colombian cabinet and elected 
officials of all ranks have welcomed President Obama's inauguration 
both publicly and privately.  Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez, 
Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos, and Commerce Minister Luis 
Guillermo Plata expressed to the Ambassador in separate 
conversations their desire for close relations with Obama 
administration and desire to meet with their new respective 
counterparts in the near future. 
 
¶3.  Media coverage of Obama's Inauguration has been extensive and 
very positive.  The President's inauguration headlined all major 
television, radio, and print media for a week.  El Tiempo, the 
leading national daily, had front page coverage of Obama's 
Inauguration on January 20 and 21, with four full pages of coverage 
on the 21st that included coverage of Embassy Bogota's event.  El 
Espectador, another leading Bogota daily, also had front page 
coverage on January 20 and 21, dedicating eight full pages on both 
days to Obama's Inauguration and his new administration.  The 
January 21 edition of El Espectador also included a full page 
article on human rights in Colombia and a full page article on free 
trade under an Obama administration.  Regionally, Cali's El Pais, 
Cartagena's El Universal, Medellin's El Colombiano, and 
Barranquilla's El Heraldo all dedicated front page coverage and 
several additional pages to Obama's Inauguration. 
 
¶4.  Editorials and Op-Eds in nearly all newspapers have been 
overwhelmingly positive.  El Tiempo ran an editorial entitled 
"Historic Transition" about President Obama's inaugural speech 
stating "...something notably absent from the speech, with 
particular relevance for Colombia, was the word 'terrorism,' though 
the concept itself was present."  El Tiempo also ran an Op-Ed by 
French political scientist Olivier Escarguel entitled "The Obama 
Effect?" in which he stated, "Colombia's natural commitment to the 
war on drugs and the conflict with the FARC makes it a necessary 
ally.  Whatever the decision might be regarding the FTA, Obama will 
continue with Plan Colombia's logical offensive."  El Espectador ran 
an editorial about President Obama's first day in office commenting 
that the actions taken by him that very day sent clear messages, and 
it noted that the "honeymoon" between Colombia and Washington ended 
with Bush's departure; that Colombia will have to confront issues 
such as the "false positives" and labor unions more seriously and 
effectively; and, that this is the moment to start building a 
relationship under fundamentally different rules.  It concluded by 
saying that, "In the end, this could be very good news for the sad 
state of human rights in Colombia."  Cali's El Pais carried an 
editorial entitled "President of Hope" which stated in part, "The 
sharp contrast between the humility Obama projected in his speech 
and the pomp and ceremony that went with his inauguration sent a 
resounding message to the world and to the Americans themselves: 
that nation continues to be a powerful one, whose new president is 
prepared to right the wrongs of the past." 
 
¶5.  Media coverage has continued to be extensive and has remained 
uniformly positive since the inauguration.  It has largely focused 
on how relations between Colombia and the U.S. may change, the role 
that human rights will play, the chances for passage in the U.S. 
Congress of the pending FTA, and the future of Plan Colombia. 
Colombian commentators have supported President Obama's initial 
steps to close the detainee facility at Guantanamo and his visit to 
the State Department as a sign of a new direction in U.S. foreign 
policy. 
 
¶6.  On January 20, the Ambassador hosted a reception at his 
residence in celebration of the inauguration of President Obama. 
More than 200 guests from the Government of Colombia, local and 
international NGOs, the private sector, academia, the media, the 
Afro-Colombian community and the Embassy attended. 
Attendees included the President of the Supreme Court Francisco 
Ricaurte, the Vice Minister for Defense Sergio Jaramillo, Vice 
Minister of Interior Maria Isabel Nieto, Senate Vice President Oscar 
Suarez, Mayor of Cartagena Judith Pinedo, President of Banco de la 
Republica Jose Uribe, the President of the Council of American 
Enterprises, the Director of the National Association of 
Afro-Colombian Mayors, and the Director of the Colombo-American 
Center, among others. 
 
¶7. Likely Presidential candidate Rodrigo Rivera also told us the 
entire Colombian political class was ready to express support for 
the incoming administration.  Accion Social, the presidential agency 
responsible for social programs for vulnerable populations, told us 
that they were anxious to learn about how the U.S.- Colombia 
relationship would change - especially in terms of security and 
other forms of assistance.  They added that they were pleased to see 
such a strong turnout of Afro-Colombian leaders at the Ambassador's 
event because it gave them an opportunity to network and discuss 
specific programs. 
 
BROWNFIELD