Cablegate: Goc Agrees with Gopa Communique Text

VZCZCXYZ0016
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #3424 2591300
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 151300Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4656
INFO RUCNDTA/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1945

UNCLAS BOGOTA 003424

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

EEB FOR M. LURIE
WHA/EPSC FOR M. ROONEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD UNGA CO
SUBJECT: GOC AGREES WITH GOPA COMMUNIQUE TEXT

REF: BOGOTA 3207

(SBU) On September 11, Charge shared with Vice Minister of
Foreign Affairs Camilo Reyes our revised draft text of the
Growth and Opportunity Partnership of the Americas (GOPA)
communique. Charge pointed out that we had taken the word
"Alliance" out of the name of the initiative and made other
changes to avoid the appearance of exclusivity. On September
12, MFA reconfirmed President Uribe's attendance at the
September 24 meeting and informed us that they agreed with
the substance of the text. Their one request was to include
in paragraph 5: (4) "enhance cooperation" and exchange best
practices on labor and environmental standards and
enforcement.
NICHOLS

© Scoop Media