VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHBO #6383 2422123
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 302123Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8523
INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 9267
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ AUG LIMA 5352
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 5945
RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL 4050
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
UNCLAS BOGOTA 006383
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KJUS CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA TO EXTEND UN HIGH COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE
MANDATE
1. (SBU) The Government of Colombia (GOC) and the UN High
Commission on Human Rights (UNHCHR) have agreed on the
renewal of the UNHCHR mandate in Colombia through 2010. The
agreement will be signed during the September 8-9 visit of
the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour.
Juan Pablo Corlazzoli, head of the local UNHCHR office, told
us UNHCHR is happy with the extension and that his office's
mandate remains essentially unchanged. The accord, which
extends the mandate through October 30, 2010, explicitly
recognizes the UNHCHR's important observation role, provides
for increased technical and institutional cooperation, and
calls for continued dialogue on working methods and
priorities.
2. (SBU) GOC Presidential Human Rights Program director
Carlos Franco confirmed the agreement on the renewal of the
UNHCHR's mandate and said preparations for High Commissioner
Arbour's visit are almost finalized. In addition to meeting
with President Uribe and other GOC officials, she will meet
with local diplomats and civil society representatives. Last
year, the GOC renewed the UNHCHR's mandate for one year to
enable both the GOC and the UNHCHR to review the mandate
based on the Commission's ten years of work in Colombia.
Nichols