Cablegate: Keeping the Pressure On the Farc

VZCZCXYZ0008
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHME #2336 2112049
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 292049Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2768
INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 4082
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1402

UNCLAS MEXICO 002336

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM SNAR CO VZ MX
SUBJECT: KEEPING THE PRESSURE ON THE FARC

REF: STATE 77205

1. Deputy PolCouns met with the Foreign Ministry's Chief of
the Department of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, Landy
Esquivel, 7/29, to stress the importance the U.S. placed on
keeping up pressure on the FARC in the wake of the recent
rescue of the hostages in Colombia. Esquivel drew attention
to the GOM press release applauding the rescue and calling on
the FARC to release all remaining hostages. She also noted
that Mexican President Calderon would be traveling to Bogota
July 31 - August 1 to attend a Forum on Illicit Drugs and
Security in the Caribbean, Colombia, Venezuela and Mexico
where she expected Calderon would meet privately with
Colombian President Uribe.

2. Esquivel characterized Mexican-Colombian relations as
very good with increasing cooperation taking place
particularly in connection to efforts to combat organized
crime. By contrast, despite efforts to put a better public
face on Mexico's relations with Venezuela, Calderon had not
yet visited Venezuela in the course of his first year and a
half in office and had no present plans to do so.
Venezuela's Ambassador to Mexico departed in early July when
he was named Venezuela's Ambassador to the OAS and has yet to
be replaced.

Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity and the North American
Partnership Blog at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap /
WILLIAMS

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