US embassy cable - 05QUITO2207

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 QUITO 002207 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/26/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, EC, Regional 
SUBJECT: IMPROVING ECUADOR-COLOMBIA RELATIONS 
 
 
Classified By: PolChief Erik Hall for reason 1.4 (b&d) 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  Communication and relations between 
President Palacio and President Uribe remain good, 
highlighted by recent GOE action against the FARC here.  But 
the GOE continues to insist that aerial spraying of 
pesticides be suspended along the border while a new study is 
prepared.  Palacio's mention of the issue in his UNGA speech 
is an attempt to hand off the fumigation issue to 
international experts, but means the issue will certainly 
survive the upcoming change of Foreign Minister.  We are 
hopeful that the change will lower the tone of the GOE's 
public discourse on Colombia.  Fumigation and FARC semantics 
are second-tier issues with domestic political ramifications 
here, requiring more work between the two governments.  We 
are encouraging the GOE and Colombian Embassy here to use 
dialogue to increase understanding and overcome bilateral 
differences.  End Summary. 
 
Presidential Relations Good 
--------------------------- 
 
2.  (C) Palacio called the Ambassador on September 23 to 
relate his conversation with Uribe the night before, in which 
he relayed news of the GOE arrest and prospective deportation 
to Colombia of high FARC leader Marcial Eduardo Campana 
Pineda.  The deportation took place the morning of September 
24.  Palacio seemed elated by the effect of the news on 
Uribe, who welcomed it. 
 
3.  (C) Uribe took the opportunity to ask Palacio's views on 
whether the GOC should grant ex-president Lucio Gutierrez 
political asylum.  (Note:  Gutierrez applied for asylum on 
September 21, and was granted interim status to stay in 
Colombia while his application is considered, for 90 days. 
Terms of the interim status reportedly prohibit political 
statements, forcing Gutierrez to cancel planned public 
activities, according to press reports here.) 
 
4.  (C) Palacio told the Ambassador that he replied to Uribe 
that Gutierrez' status in Colombia is an internal Colombian 
matter in which he would not interfere, except to deny that 
Gutierrez is the victim of political persecution by the GOE. 
 
5.  (C) National Police Chief Jose Vinueza related the same 
conversation slightly differently to the DCM on September 24. 
 Vinueza claimed to be present during the conversation, but 
said that when asked about Gutierrez (and at Vinueza's 
suggestion), Palacio warned Uribe to be careful of Gutierrez' 
links to the FARC.  Vinueza also said Gutierrez is in 
possession of an air ticket returning to Peru around October 
20.  For his part, he believed it would be better for 
Gutierrez to be granted asylum with accompanying restrictions 
(on political activity), since he enjoys excellent relations 
with his Colombian counterpart, which would help the GOE 
monitor Gutierrez' activities in Colombia. 
 
Fumigation Issue Not Going Away 
------------------------------- 
 
6.  (C) The main issue dividing the two neighbors is the 
GOE's request that Colombia suspend aerial pesticide 
fumigation of coca crops within 10 km of the Ecuador-Colombia 
border.  Both countries support a compromise move to request 
that an international health institution (e.g. WHO, PAHO) 
conduct a scientific investigation of the effects of spraying 
on Ecuadorians living near the border.  However, FM Parra 
refused to sign a joint declaration to that effect after 
meeting with his counterpart in Bogota on August 31, because 
the GOC was unwilling to suspend aerial spraying during the 
study. 
 
7.  (C) Speculation that the impending change of Foreign 
Minister here, projected for early October, might affect the 
fumigation issue was put to rest when President Palacio 
included the issue in his recent UNGA speech.  Palacio has 
also stated publicly that incoming FM Francisco Carrion would 
change the tone, but not the content, of bilateral dialogue 
with Colombia. 
 
FARC Designation Another Thorn 
------------------------------ 
 
8.  (C)  Shortly after taking office, Minister of Defense 
Oswaldo Jarrin added fuel to the bilateral fire by publicly 
insisting that the GOE does not consider the FARC to be 
terrorists, and has never designated them as such.  Parra and 
Palacio have since publicly refused to label the FARC, citing 
the GOE's policy of non-intervention.  Colombian Ambassador 
to the U.S. Andres Pastrana criticized these statements 
publicly at a university forum in which incoming FM Carrion 
was present, saying Colombia needed solidarity, not 
equivocation, from its neighbor.  Carrion refused to comment 
for the GOE, deferring publicly to Parra.  Jarrin told the 
Ambassador, after the recent breakup of the FARC camp in 
Ecuador, that he would give no respite to the FARC and had 
given orders to the military accordingly, a stance that 
signals stronger action than in the past. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
9.  (C) On balance, bilateral relations between the two 
neighboring countries are solid, if publicly marred by 
non-essential issues.  We are most encouraged that Palacio's 
efforts to assertively combat the FARC presence in Ecuador 
signal cooperation on core interests.  The fluid dialogue 
between the two leaders is also positive. 
 
10.  (C) Fumigation and semantics about the FARC are 
second-tier issues with domestic political ramifications 
here, requiring more work between the two.  We are 
coordinating closely with the Colombian Embassy in Quito, 
which seems relatively sanguine about the situation.  With 
some additional work, the fumigation issue will head into a 
technical study phase.  We expect the issue will not only 
outlast Parra's tenure in the Foreign Ministry but perhaps 
Palacio's turn in office as well.  We do not see advantage in 
the USG taking a public lead on the issue.  Rather, we will 
continue to encourage better communication from behind the 
scenes. 
JEWELL