US embassy cable - 04QUITO3151

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 003151 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS USTR 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, EC 
SUBJECT: CAREER DIP TO HEAD ECUADOR'S WASHINGTON EMBASSY 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney, Reason 1.4 (b) 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY:  President Lucio Gutierrez told the 
Ambassador on December 2 that he would nominate MFA Bilateral 
U/S Roberto Betancourt to head Ecuador's embassy in 
Washington.  The career diplomat will replace political 
appointee Ambassador Raul Gangotena, who submitted his 
resignation November 30.  Betancourt has not been an ally on 
issues of USG interest in the past but, unlike Gangotena, he 
enjoys excellent relations with Foreign Minister Patricio 
Zuquilanda.  We believe it would be counter-productive to 
deny agrement and recommend instead that Washington officials 
seek to engage Betancourt early on key bilateral issues, such 
as ongoing FTA talks and stalled Article 98 negotiations. 
Biodata appears in Paragraph 7.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (C) FM Zuquilanda called the Ambassador on November 29 to 
preview the replacement of Gangotena with a "more dynamic" 
career diplomat, saying President Gutierrez had suggested we 
be informed before making the change public.  The Ambassador 
expressed regret and praised Gangotena as an ally on the FTA. 
 The next day, Gangotena called the Ambassador to inform her 
that he had submitted his resignation at the FM's request, 
understanding the need of the president for flexibility 
building political coalitions at home.  He later spoke to the 
press, which reported Gangotena's respect for the president's 
need for "utmost flexibility in personnel matters." 
 
3.  (C) Gutierrez told the Ambassador and DCM at a December 2 
working breakfast that he would nominate Roberto Betancourt, 
the MFA's Number 3, to head Ecuador's mission in Washington. 
The key position required a professional diplomat, the 
president believed, skilled in negotiation and well-versed in 
trade matters.  Betancourt fit the bill. 
 
4.  (C) The Ambassador thanked the president and offered 
Embassy assistance in the agrement process.  She regretted 
the resignation of Gangotena, noting that Gangotena was a 
credit to the GoE's diplomatic corps, and would be missed. 
 
5.  (C) COMMENT:  Like most MFA diplomats, Betancourt is 
polished and professional.  Unfortunately, he also shares 
with his colleagues less attractive attributes, namely a 
1960s-era anti-Americanism and enduring skepticism of USG 
motives.  As Ecuador's Article 98 POC, for example, he 
steadfastly skirted good faith negotiations, preferring to 
seek waivers instead.  Similarly, as the Foreign Ministry's 
FTA coordinator, he earned the ire of our U.S. Trade 
Representative colleagues for diversionary tactics. 
 
6.  (C) Seeking the silver lining in this nomination, we are 
left with Betancourt's close relations with boss Zuquilanda. 
Although neither would admit problems, it was an open secret 
the FM and Ambassador Gangotena rarely spoke, much less 
coordinated on policy.  We feel assured that Washington 
entreaties toward the new Ecuadorian envoy will quickly reach 
Quito.  As a skilled and trusted diplomat, Betancourt will 
likely be trusted to engage on the substance of key bilateral 
issues, including Article 98 and the FTA.  The Foreign 
Ministry has already requested agrement; despite Betancourt's 
previous unhelpfulness, we believe it counterproductive to 
reject the request.  To temper negative attitudes and make 
bilateral progress, we recommend Washington officials reach 
out to Betancourt early and often.  END COMMENT. 
 
7.  (U) BIOGRAPHICAL DATA:  Roberto Betancourt Ruales, 54, 
entered Ecuador's diplomatic academy in 1969.  After 
graduation, he earned an advanced degree in economics from 
Quito's Catholic University, studied regional development at 
the Federal University in Belem, Brazil, and attended the 
Chilean government's diplomatic school.  His resume 
highlights both bilateral and multilateral assignments; 
Betancourt has served in Ecuador's embassies in Chile, 
Uruguay, and Colombia, as well as in its UN, WTO, FAO, and 
Andean Community of Nations (CAN) missions.  Before assuming 
his current role as chief of bilateral affairs, he headed the 
MFA's multilateral office and was Ecuador's FTAA head of 
delegation. 
KENNEY