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DE RUEHBR #1281 3031954
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R 301954Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5309
INFO RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 0020
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 6402
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 0002
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 0010
RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL//SCJ2-I/J5/HSE/DIA REP//
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRASILIA 001281
SIPDIS
WHA FOR A/S SHANNON, DAS MCMULLEN, WHA/BSC - SIMPSON/POSIVAK
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2019
TAGS: MARR OPDC PREL CO BR
SUBJECT: BRAZIL: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON U.S.-COLOMBIA DCA
REF: A. SECSTATE 111966 B. BRASILIA 01264 Classified By: Political Counselor Steve Liston. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d ).
1. (SBU) Poloffs delivered Ref A demarche on the U.S.-Colombia Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) October 30 to
Brazilian Ministry of External Relations (MRE) Pol/Mil Advisor to the Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Marcos Pinta
Gama, United States/Canada/Inter-American Affairs Department Head Minister Carlos Abreu, and Brazilian Ministry of
Defense Brigadier Holand.
2. (SBU) Pinta Gama and Abreu were interested to know that the agreement would be provided to the U.S. Congress and
would eventually be made public. Pinta Gama noted that the DCA is important for Brazil and South America and has been
discussed thoroughly by the ministers and presidents of the region. Pinta Gama and Abreu asked if the DCA was meant to
allow the United States to replace the capabilities allowed by the Manta, Ecuador base. PolCouns explained that it was
not.
3. (C) While Pinta Gama assured that "we don,t want to make a big drama of this issue" or have this "become an issue of
disagreement among neighbors," he stressed that, in light of Colombia,s past border issues with Ecuador and Venezuela,
Brazil continues to seek formal assurances that Colombia will respect borders, in addition to those in Article III of
the U.S.-Colombia DCA, "to ensure a peaceful atmosphere in the region." PolCouns noted that the assurances Brazil seeks
from Colombia are based on concerns that go well beyond the scope of the DCA and that, as Brazilian President Lula had
stated publicly during Colombia President Uribe,s visit to Sao Paulo the previous week that he was satisfied with U.S.
and Colombian explanations of the agreement (Ref B), the DCA should not be linked to Brazil,s continuing effort to gain
Colombian assurances.
4. (SBU) In a separate meeting, Brigadier Holand told Pol/MilOff he was grateful for U.S. efforts to keep Brazil
informed.
KUBISKE