Cablegate: Chile Supports Colombian Government in Farc
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHSG #0688 2072116
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 252116Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3525
INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA PRIORITY 2072
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 0379
RUEHMU/AMEMBASSY MANAGUA PRIORITY 0122
C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTIAGO 000688
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2018
TAGS: PTER SNAR PGOV PREL CI CO BR NU
SUBJECT: CHILE SUPPORTS COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT IN FARC
STRUGGLE
REF: STATE 77205
Classified By: E/Pol Counselor Juan Alsace for reason 1.4 (b).
1. (C) E/Pol Counselor, accompanied by E/Pol Officer,
delivered reftel demarche points to Carlos Charme, Deputy
Director of the MFA's Office for South American Affairs.
Charme was joined by Enrique Barriga, Desk Officer for
Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela. E/Pol Counselor stressed
that it is critical for Chile and others of Colombia's
continental neighbors to keep the pressure up on the FARC,
including by approaches to Chavez.
2. (C) Charme and Barriga replied that several regional
statements--including a Rio Group resolution and an UNASUR
consensus document--already demonstrate regional support for
the Colombian government. Barriga noted approvingly that
President Lula of Brazil has become more positive towards the
Colombian government, but said that Nicaraguan President
Ortega had recently denounced the Colombian Ambassador over
the on-going struggle with the FARC. Both emphasized that
Chile would continue to work through regional organizations
to build consensus in isolating the FARC, although Chile
would not likely issue unilateral statements.
SIMONS