US embassy cable - 05QUITO1926

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 001926 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PINR, EC 
SUBJECT: PRES. PALACIO ON NEW AMB. TO U.S., REPLACEMENT FM 
 
 
Classified By: PolChief Erik Hall for reasons 1.4 (b&d) 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  President Alfredo Palacio told the Charge 
that he would name career diplomat Luis Gallegos Chiriboga to 
be Ecuador's Ambassador to the U.S. shortly.  He also said he 
intended to replace FM Parra with another career Ecuadorian 
and UN diplomat, Diego Cordovez.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (C) In a one-on-one meeting with Charge on August 17, 
President Palacio said he would soon name Ambassador to the 
UN Luis Gallegos Chiriboga as Ecuador's new 
Ambassador-designate to the U.S., replacing Alvaro Perez, 
whose name was recently withdrawn by the GOE.  Gallegos has 
the full confidence of the President for this position, but 
would not be able to take up his duties in Washington until 
after the UNGA meetings in September. 
 
3.  (C) The Charge suggested the GOE nominate Gallegos 
soonest, so that the agrement process could take place in the 
meantime.  Palacio said he would do so. 
 
4.  (C) Palacio said he was displeased with the preformance 
of FM Antonio Parra Gil, and would replace him in "a month or 
two" with Diego Cordovez, a respected Ecuadorian diplomat who 
had also served as a high UN official. 
 
5.  (C) Comment:  The Embassy searched its databases and has 
no derogatory information on Gallegos, and will report bio 
information once the agrement request has been received.  We 
will make and report results of similar information on 
Cordovez. 
MEMMOTT