id: 145751 date: 3/13/2008 20:38 refid: 08MONTEVIDEO144 origin: Embassy Montevideo classification: CONFIDENTIAL destination: 08STATE25971 header: VZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHMN #0144 0732038 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 132038Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8039 INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA PRIORITY 2657 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 4939 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 1950 RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO PRIORITY 0075 ----------------- header ends ---------------- C O N F I D E N T I A L MONTEVIDEO 000144 SIPDIS SIPDIS WHA/USOAS FOR RICARDO ZUNIGA WHA/BSC FOR KBEAMER E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2018 TAGS: PREL, PTER, PGOV, CO, EC, VE, UY SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: URUGUAY ON COLOMBIA-ECUADOR DISPUTE AND 3/17 OAS MINISTERIAL REF: STATE 25971 Classified By: DCM ROBIN MATTHEWMAN, REASON 1.4 (d) 1. (SBU) Polcouns delivered reftel demarche jointly to the MFA's Director of Multilateral Affairs, Ambassador Carlos Barros and Director for the Americas, Laura Dupuy on March 13 and mentioned that the WHA Front Office was intending to reach out directly to Foreign Minister Gonzalo Fernandez in the near future. NOTE: WHA DAS Chris McMullen called Fernandez that same afternoon. END NOTE. 2. (C) Barros and Dupuy said the USG points, to a great extent, corresponded with Uruguay's position. The GOU took the row between Ecuador and Colombia very seriously and was anxious to do it part to help further reduce tensions. Barros said Uruguay was especially interested in chairing the March 17 Consultation of Ministers where it would play a neutral and proactive role. 3. (C) Barros emphasized that Uruguay was sending a senior delegation, comprised of FM Fernandez, Director General of the Secretariat Jose Cancela, and Director General for Political Affairs Juan Enrique Fischer. He described the delegation as ready to engage and be proactive on the issue. 4. (C) Barros also mentioned that Venezuela plans to raise Plan Colombia as an issue at the March 17 OAS meeting. Baxter =======================CABLE ENDS============================