Cablegate: Response to Colombian Offer of Assistance For

VZCZCXYZ3293
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #4192 2792100
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O P 062041Z OCT 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA IMMEDIATE 0312
INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 3723
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 2755
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 3242
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC
RHEHOND/DIR ONDCP WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/DIRJIATF SOUTH J5

UNCLAS STATE 104192

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SNAR AF CO
SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO COLOMBIAN OFFER OF ASSISTANCE FOR
AFGHANISTAN COUNTERNARCOTICS POLICE

REF: BOGOTA 3066

1. (U) This is an action request. Please pass to NAS/Bogota.
Please see paragraph three.

2. (U) Reftel requested instructions from Department on
responding to an offer of assistance from the Colombian
National Police (CNP) to help train the Counternarcotics
Police of Afghanistan's Narcotics Interdiction Unit (NIU) as
a continuation of previous INL-sponsored CNP training efforts
in Afghanistan in 2005-2007.

3. (U) The Department continues to review this offer of
assistance with relevant interagency authorities, and
requests that Post convey the following message to CNP
interlocutors:

BEGIN TALKING POINTS:

- Please accept our sincere appreciation for your offer
to help train the Government of Afghanistan's Narcotics
Interdiction Unit.

- The United States shares Colombia's commitment to
helping the Government of Afghanistan combat the scourge of
narcotics in order to provide security to the Afghan people
and reestablish governance and economic opportunity.

- As you may be aware, the United States is reviewing its
counternarcotics strategy in Afghanistan.

- As we evaluate the current needs of the
Counternarcotics Police of Afghanistan (CNPA), we request
that the Government of Colombia provide additional
information regarding its intended offer of assistance,
specifically with regard to the duration and content of the
instructional curriculum that the Colombian National Police's
Anti-Narcotics Directorate would intend to provide, as well
as biographic details regarding suggested officials from the
Government of Colombia that would provide training to the
CNPA.

- At that time, we look forward to reviewing the proposed
training opportunity suggested by the Government of Colombia
based on the needs of the CNPA, and in turn, provide a more
detailed response.

END TALKING POINTS.

4. (SBU) The Department appreciates Post's attention to these
requests.
CLINTON

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