US embassy cable - 05QUITO2506

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 QUITO 002506 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: TEN YEARS 
TAGS: PGOV, PINR, PREL, EC 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH MFA 
 
REF: QUITO 02193 
 
Classified By: Jarahn D. Hillsman, Reasons 1.4 (b&d) 
 
1.  (C) Summary: In her initial meeting with Foreign Minister 
(FM) Francisco Carrion on November 1, the Ambassador 
reaffirmed the importance of respecting constitutional bounds 
for reform, urged the MFA to revitalize the GOE 
inter-ministry working group on TIP, and reminded the FM that 
the GOE,s reluctance to agree to Article 98 continues to 
restrict our support.  Carrion emphasized the need for 
reforms by the constituent assembly.  He expressed his dismay 
over the lack of development along the northern border, and 
discussed the need to develop a new bilateral framework for 
relations with neighboring Colombia. 
 
2.  (U) This was the Ambassador's first meeting with FM 
Carrion since he replaced former FM Parra, now ambassador in 
Madrid (reftel).  The Ambassador was accompanied by DCM. 
Undersecretary for Bilateral Affairs, Susana Alvear, and 
Ambassador Rafael Veintimilla, Director of Bilateral Affairs, 
attended with Carrion.  End Summary. 
 
MFA Scheduling Appointments for Summit 
-------------------------------------- 
 
3.  (SBU) Carrion said that the MFA was busily processing 
last-minute bilateral meeting requests with Peru, Argentina, 
Brazil, and the United States in Mar del Plata.  The 
Ambassador said a bilateral pull-aside was unlikely to be 
added to the US-Andean meeting, given scheduling conflicts. 
Carrion added that the Chileans and OAS Secretary General 
Insulza had requested meetings with Palacio.  Carrion 
believes Ecuador's participation in the Summit of the 
Americas could not have come at a better time; issues such as 
governance, migration, and job creation to be discussed by 
the region's governments are of particular interest to the 
GOE.  Carrion assured the Ambassador of Ecuador's unequivocal 
commitment to combat narco-trafficking and terrorism.  He 
noted that he was Ambassador to Spain during the train 
bombings, where seven Ecuadorians lost their lives, and he 
understands that terrorism knows no boundary and Ecuador has 
a stake.  He also expressed his fondness for the U.S. and for 
our &way of doing business8, adding that in his opinion the 
USG-GOE relationship is the most important one to Ecuador. 
 
High Hopes for the Constituent Assembly 
--------------------------------------- 
 
4.  (C) Carrion is clearly supportive of President Palacio's 
constituent assembly.  Carrion said that he has many friends 
in Congress, and has contacted them personally to press for 
their support for Palacio,s initiative.  He is hopeful that 
a new constitution will form the institutional foundation for 
a new Ecuador, allowing the GOE to better attend to the 
welfare of the people through better education and 
healthcare. 
 
5.  (C) Carrion asked for the Ambassador's opinion on the 
current political situation.  The Ambassador said that the 
trajectory of the country is for Ecuador to decide; however, 
the avenue must remain within the bounds of the constitution. 
 Carrion agreed, adding that Palacio hoped to deliver the 
proposal to Congress before he departed for Argentina (NOTE: 
Palacio presented his proposed referendum question allowing 
the voters to decide whether and how to organize a national 
assembly on November 2).  Carrion believed that this would 
force the Congress to be responsive to the desires of 
Ecuadorian citizens in favor of overdue change. 
 
6.  (C) Carrion said a draft statute would accompany the 
proposal to Congress.  The statute would outline the 
framework for the formulation of a constituent assembly, open 
to both political parties and civil society.  It would also 
affirm that previous international agreements and the issue 
of dollarization would be "fenced off" from consideration in 
the constituent assembly.  The newly reformed or created 
constitution would only take effect after January 15, 2007, 
allowing the current Congress, which would remain untouched 
in 2006, to debate and vote on the FTA. 
 
Optimistic over Supreme Court 
----------------------------- 
 
7.  (SBU) The FM was optimistic that the Supreme Court 
process is progressing, adding that he believed it would be 
up and running in a month or so.  The Ambassador said that 
the formulation of a Supreme Court would be a critical step 
forward; and that the U.S. and the international community 
stood ready to help legitimize the new court. 
 
Shocked by Conditions along the Northern Border 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
8.  (C) Recalling his recent study tour of the Northern 
Border region, Carrion expressed his shock over the social, 
political, and economic isolation of residents there. 
Clearly moved by what he saw, Carrion insisted that a new 
constitution should address the needs of these "forgotten" 
people.  He also acknowledged USG assistance in the NB 
region, and suggested that more was necessary. 
 
Pushing for Progresson TIP 
-------------------------- 
 
9.  (SBU) The Ambassador took the opportunity to mention USG 
efforts against trafficking-in-persons.  She briefed the FM 
on USG supported initiatives to help curb the problem, and 
said the GOE needed to do more to move off tier three next 
June.  The GOE inter-ministerial working group was in 
disarray after continual instability in the Ministry of 
Government, and must be revitalized.  Carrion, apparently 
unaware of the existence of the group, asked how he and the 
MFA could add real &value8 to this fight.  The Ambassador, 
suggested that the MFA consider chairing the group.  Carrion 
was receptive to the idea, and said he would ask his staff to 
follow. 
 
Forging a New Bilateral Relationship with Colombia 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
10.  (C) Carrion said he would meet with Colombian FM 
Carolina Barco at Mar del Plata, and their vice-ministers 
would convoke a bilateral meeting later this month to 
negotiate a new framework for bilateral relations.  The 
agreement would be signed in mid-December. 
 
11.  (C) The new framework, according to Carrion, would seek 
a greater focus on NB security issues, call for increased 
Colombian military presence along the Ecuadorian-Colombian 
border, demand greater GOC resources in support of the 
250-400,000 refugees currently living in Ecuador, renew 
discussions on investment and trade, and make another push to 
get the GOC to halt aerial spraying along the border. 
 
12.  (C) The Ambassador discussed USG efforts to support the 
GOE in the NB region, citing investment in equipment, 
physical infrastructure improvements, and technical training. 
 She said the issue of aerial spraying was a bilateral one 
between Ecuador and Colombia, but said the USG is convinced 
of the safety of glyphosate.  The Ambassador explained that 
GOE reluctance to sign article 98 and the subsequent 
sanctions have impacted our ability to do more.  Carrion said 
he understood, but countered that the current political 
climate made it impossible for the GOE to agree to article 98 
requests. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
13.  (C) Carrion impressed us as intelligent and sincere.  He 
seems much more likely than his predecessor to achieve 
progress in relations with Colombia by energetically working 
with Colombia to increase cooperation and understanding.  He 
also shows greater vision, and has initiated an effort to 
deliver a plan for Ecuador's foreign policy through 2020. 
Carrion's meeting with FM Barco in Mar del Plata will be 
their second in several weeks.  Parra met with her just twice 
in six months. 
 
14.  (C) Carrion's energy is a welcome change, as is his 
reasonable tone.  Defense of national threats and his 
President are clearly paramount to him , but we will continue 
to enlist his support on TIP and other priority bilateral 
issues. 
JEWELL