Cablegate: Ambassador Presents Csdi to National Council for Dangerous

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DE RUEHBO #0778/01 0571911
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R 261910Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3095
INFO RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF STATE AIR WING PATRICK AFB FL
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0033
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA

UNCLAS BOGOTA 000778

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DEPT FOR INL/LP AND INL/RM
DEPT FOR WHA/AND
WHITE HOUSE PASS DIR ONDCP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR SENV KCRM PTER PGOV CO
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRESENTS CSDI TO NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR DANGEROUS
DRUGS

1. (SBU) Summary: At a meeting of the National Council for
Dangerous Drugs (CNE) on February 11, the Ambassador presented the
Embassy's Colombia Strategic Development Initiative (CSDI) and
reviewed our effort to align CSDI with the Government of Colombia's
(GOC) National Consolidation Plan. The Ambassador discussed the
Embassy's CSDI, the internal coordination process, and how the
Embassy is supporting consolidation in select priority zones. The
Ambassador applauded the National Consolidation Plan's
comprehensive approach, highlighting the respect for human rights
as a key element of consolidation. He also noted the importance of
a civilian-led consolidation effort and the need for better
coordination among Colombian state agencies in consolidation
planning. The Embassy plans continued follow-up with the Ministry
of Interior and Justice, and other GOC agencies, to encourage
better coordination and advocate for commitment of more resources
for consolidation activities. End Summary.

2. (SBU) At a meeting of the National Council for Dangerous Drugs
(CNE) on February 11, the Ambassador presented the Embassy's
Colombia Strategic Development Initiative (CSDI) and reviewed the
Embassy's effort to align CSDI with the Colombian government's
(GOC) National Consolidation Plan. The Ambassador's intervention
at the CNE sought to stimulate broader civilian ministry commitment
to the National Consolidation Plan and endorse the consolidation
central theme that budgets, resources and goals aligned under
unified civilian leadership will direct concerted, interagency
action towards identified priority zones. The CNE is an
interagency steering body with decision-making authority for
counternarcotics policy presided over by Minister of Interior and
Justice Fabio Valencia Cossio.

3. (SBU) The Ambassador discussed the Embassy's CSDI effort, the
internal coordination process, and USG efforts to support the GOC's
consolidation plan in four regions: the Southern Band (Narino and
Putumayo departments), the Central Band (stretching from
Buenaventura on the Pacific to La Macarena region in Meta
department), the Montes de Maria region, and the Northern Band
(Nudo de Paramillo in northern Antioquia and southern Cordoba
departments). The Embassy's CSDI effort will eventually include a
fifth zone in the Choco department and Uraba region. The
Ambassador remarked that the Embassy's CSDI intervention zones
correspond to a majority of the GOC's priority consolidation areas.

4. (SBU) The Ambassador applauded the National Consolidation
Plan's comprehensive approach and noted that respect for human
rights and plans to create permanent citizen security and economic
development are key elements of consolidation. He stressed the
importance of a civilian-led consolidation effort and the need for
further Colombian state resources towards whole-of government
programs in consolidation zones, to promote improvements in access
to justice, support for rural agriculture, enhanced roadway
construction and the transition of security responsibility from
military to the police. Land-titling was also highlighted as a
priority to enhance the confidence of communities in consolidation
zones and spur long-term economic development.

5. (SBU) Minister of Interior and Justice Valencia Cossio
concurred on the importance of increasing police presence in
consolidation zones and, noting recent court decisions to release
alleged members of a known drug-trafficking organization, expressed
concern about the current limitations of the justice sector in
prosecuting criminals. Minister Valencia Cossio proposed creating
a working group, under the leadership of Vice Minister of Justice
Miguel Ceballos, to increase the involvement of civilian agencies
and improve consolidation coordination. High Commissioner for

Social Action and International Cooperation (Accion Social) Diego
Molano, who is also the civilian lead for the National
Consolidation Plan, reviewed consolidation progress to date,
including the development of operational and security plans for
consolidation zones and the establishment of six Regional
Coordination Centers with interagency representation. He also
called for the Attorney General's office to show greater commitment
to consolidation by assigning prosecutors to consolidation zones.

6. (SBU) Comment: The Ambassador's intervention at the CNE was
designed to stimulate broader involvement of Colombian state
agencies in the consolidation process. It is unclear if Minister
Valencia Cossio, as President of the CNE, will be able to direct
more state agency involvement and deliver better interagency
coordination and more resources for consolidation programs.
Discussing consolidation and CSDI at the CNE will likely begin a
dialogue on how to increase state participation in consolidation
and improve coordination. More interest among the Colombian
National Police and the Ministry of Interior and Justice to discuss
ways to measure success in consolidation zones has already been
evident. The Embassy will encourage Accion Social High
Commissioner Diego Molano to reach out to other Colombian state
institutions, including the CNE, as he seeks support for the
National consolidation Plan. End comment.
Brownfield

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