FOIA 0154-09 COLOMBIA - DIGEST

Visit programme for Dr Kim Howells to attend G 24 III International Conference

Thursday 29 November 07

20:05 - Arrives from Miami on Flight no: AA 915

Quiet bite to eat with HMA at Residence

Friday 30 November

08:30 Opening of the III International Conference about Colombia.

Mr. Alvaro Uribe Vélez, President of the Republic of Colombia

09:30 Speech by the President of the G-24

Mr. Jorge Enrique Taiana, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Argentina

11:00 Round table meeting with NGOs (8 high profile British and local NGOs ) (Oxfam,

Christian Aid, Peace Brigades Internationl, Save The Children , Plan International,

Fundacion para Libertad dePrensa (FLIP), Equitas, Fundacion Ideas para la Paz (FIP)

(venue: Embassy)

12:00 Lunch

Lunch hosted by the Colombian Government for Ministers and Head of Delegations plus Ambassadors

Venue: Palacio de San Carlos, Salón Bolívar

Dr Howells to respond to Vice President's invitation

SLOT IN PRESS CONFERENCE AT VENUE???

17:40 Meeting with Carlos Rodriguez, President of CUT Venue: DHM's Residence

18:00 Drinks at DHM's Residence to meet NGO and Government officials (Guest list approx 30-40)

20:00 Dinner at Residence guest list (total of 10 - 4 UK side)

Saturday 1 December

SUMAPAZ

07:40 Leave for airport

08:15 Information redacted

09:00 Information redacted

10:00 Walk

12:30 Return

13:30 Information redacted

15:00 Information redacted

17:00 Information redacted

19:30 Dinner with Vice President Santos

Sunday 2 December

08:00 Flight departs for Miami

eGram report of Dr Howells' visit to Colombia, from British Embassy Bogotá, 3 December 2007

1. It was good to see Dr Howells back in Colombia. Despite the limited time available, he was able to have useful talks with the Vice-President, the Defence Minister, the Head of the TUC equivalent and a range of NGOs, among others. Information redacted. He also found time to attend briefings on aspects of our CN work here, and to visit a military base outside Bogota to look at demining in practice and to reinforce our message on human rights.

2. Problems with flights meant that the Minister did not arrive in time to attend the G24 Ministerial Conference - a process established in London in 2003 to bring together the Colombian government, civil society and the international community. But I stood in, and was able to deliver a speech on his behalf at the lunch (the only foreign delegation apart from the G24 Argentine Presidency with a speaking slot during the main conference). The core messages were: the importance of maintaining engagement with civil society; and the need to ensure that the process stayed focused and relevant, as Colombia starts to emerge from decades of internal conflict. Both found a wide echo and are reflected in the final Declaration.

Information redacted

Information redacted