US embassy cable - 05QUITO2822

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 QUITO 002822 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, MOPS, MASS, SNAR, PTER, EC, CO, Regional 
SUBJECT: ECUADOR-COLOMBIA TALKS ADVANCE ON BROAD RANGE OF 
ISSUES 
 
 
Classified By: PolOff Jarahn Hillsman, Reasons 1.4 (b&d). 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  The meeting between FM Francisco Carrion 
and his Colombian counterpart Carolina Barco which took place 
here on December 7 is being touted by the GOE and the 
Colombian Embassy here as a success.  Both governments 
committed to increasing security measures along the border 
region, and revived bilateral dialogue mechanisms that had 
lain dormant under Carrion's bombastic predecessor.  FM Barco 
confirmed the previous announcement that Colombia would 
temporarily suspend aerial glyphosate spraying and expand 
manual eradication units on the Ecuador-Colombia border. 
Barco also publicly agreed to a UN study of the alleged 
health implications of glyphosate and said that Bogota would 
solicit funding to help alleviate the Colombian refugee 
burden in Ecuador.  End Summary. 
 
Ambassador Encourages Progress 
------------------------------ 
 
2.  (C) The Ambassador spoke with FM Carrion on December 5 to 
reiterate USG concern about the glyphosate issue and express 
hope he would not press the GOC for more concessions, making 
sure he understood that this was a very important issue for 
the U.S.  Carrion reiterated that he inherited this issue and 
was trying to manage it for President Palacio.  He stressed 
that Ecuador was not pressing for a full 10 kilometer "free 
zone" for the FARC and others to cultivate right on their 
border.  Carrion said he was looking for a way to neutralize 
this issue politically here.  The Ambassador stressed that 
the USG could not support any outcome that gives credence to 
the notion that glyphosate is dangerous. 
 
3.  (U) The joint declaration issued on December 7 by the 
foreign ministers includes the following elements: 
 
--Bi-national Border Development Plan:  Both governments 
agreed to convene the Neighbor Commission in Quito in March 
of 2006 (it last met in February 2002).  The commission will 
focus on improving socioeconomic conditions along the border 
region. 
 
--Security:  Both governments agreed to work towards 
enhancing their security posture along the border region, and 
commended the ministers of defense for their decision to meet 
in January 2006 to discuss border security. 
 
--Anti-Narcotics:  Both governments affirmed joint 
cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking and related 
illicit activity, and agreed to convene a bi-national Mixed 
Commission of anti-narcotics authorities in Bogota in 
February of 2006. 
 
--Aerial Spraying:  FM Barco confirmed the GOC's intent to 
temporarily suspend aerial fumigation within 10 kilometers of 
the Ecuadorian border beginning January 2006, and noted that 
the manual eradication units had been increased from four to 
fourteen.  Both governments acknowledged that no agreement 
had been reached on the health effects of glyphosate, but 
that the GOC had "taken note of the Government of Ecuador's 
request that the UN conduct a prospective study of the issue 
and agreed to participate in the terms of reference of the 
same." 
 
--Migration:  Both governments agreed to review internal 
immigration issues and their implications for bilateral 
relations.  They will convene a meeting on the issue in the 
first quarter of 2006. 
 
--Refugees:  FM Barco committed to soliciting international 
humanitarian assistance to help ease the Colombian refugee 
burden on Ecuador.  Both governments agreed to work at the 
vice ministerial level with the UNHCR in the first quarter of 
2006 to jointly solicit international assistance for 
Colombian refugees in Ecuador. 
 
--Commerce:  Both governments acknowledged that Colombia 
maintains a strongly favorable balance of trade with Ecuador, 
and committed to work towards a more equitable balance.  They 
agreed to work together in their common dispute against the 
EU on bananas. 
 
4.  (U) During the joint press conference, Barco confirmed 
the suspension of spraying in January, but differed with the 
GOE about whether GOC security forces had violated Ecuadorian 
territory on November 11. 
 
GOE Content 
----------- 
 
5.  (C) On December 8, Ecuadorian Vice Foreign Minister Diego 
Ribadeneira told the DCM that the GOE was pleased with the 
outcome of the ministerial meeting, but lamented Colombia's 
refusal to permanently suspend aerial fumigation near 
Ecuadorian border settlements.  Ribadeneira said that the GOC 
considers such an agreement unnecessary, as Colombian law 
already prohibits spraying within 100 meters of a human 
settlement.  Furthermore, any such agreement would signal GOC 
agreement with the premise that glyphosate is not safe, which 
is unacceptable to the GOC.  Ribadeneira said that the most 
promising outcome of the meeting was the commitment to 
renewed dialogue and cooperation on a range of issues through 
the bi-national committees. 
 
Colombian Embassy Pleased 
------------------------- 
 
6.  (C) The DCM and PolOffs met on December 8 with Colombian 
Deputy Chief of Mission Salvador Escobar, who said FM Barco 
was pleased with the outcome of her meetings in Quito. 
Carrion,s arrival at the Ecuadorian MFA had sparked a new 
dialogue that will hopefully improve cooperation on a range 
of issues.  Bogota welcomes the more professional, diplomatic 
approach of FM Carrion over former FM Parra, he said.  He was 
hopeful that renewed dialogue, and the symbolic concessions 
made by the GOC, would give the GOE the political cover 
needed to advance on a more comprehensive bilateral agenda. 
Escobar noted that the FMs had reached agreement on key 
issues including border development, security, the global 
anti-narcotics fight, aerial spraying, migration, refugees, 
and commercial issues.  The latter are specifically important 
to the GOE, given Colombia's very favorable trade balance 
(more than 2-1) with Ecuador. 
 
Ambassador Comments on Spraying 
--------------------------------- 
 
7.  (U) Asked by press on December 8 for the USG reaction to 
the Colombia accord on spraying, the Ambassador said that we 
would respect the agreement reached by the two countries, but 
stressed the importance of spraying as an essential tool in 
the common fight against narco-trafficking. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
8.  (C) We are encouraged that the two neighbors were able to 
reactivate their bilateral dialogue after unhelpful posturing 
by the former Ecuadorian FM, which prevented progress.  The 
negotiation of terms of reference for the UN study, if it 
does move forward, is a critical point for protecting and 
preserving USG interests.  Rather than simply focusing on 
glyphosate, a study that looks carefully into the actual 
causes of the health problems alleged in the northern border 
region could help defuse the issue here.  We will try to 
point the Ecuadorians in this direction and request that 
Washington engage actively with the organizations planning 
the study to ensure that it is objective. 
JEWELL