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### Viewing cable 08QUITO53, SCENESETTER FOR SECDEF MEETING WITH ECUADORIAN MOD

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08QUITO53 | 2008-01-16 20:08 | 2011-04-10 17:05 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Quito
Appears in these articles: http://www.eluniverso.com/2011/04/10/1/1355/cable-137595.html

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    VZCZCXYZ0000
    OO RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHQT #0053/01 0162049
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    O 162049Z JAN 08
    FM AMEMBASSY QUITO
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8295
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
    INFO RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
    RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE
    RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 7245
    RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 2282
    RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ JAN BRASILIA 3832
    RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 2820
    RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL 3198

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000053

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    OSD / DAN MCDONALD

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2014
    TAGS: PREL MASS MOPS SNAR PTER EC CO VE
    SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR SECDEF MEETING WITH ECUADORIAN MOD
    SANDOVAL

    REF: A. 07 QUITO...

    id: 137595
    date: 1/16/2008 20:49
    refid: 08QUITO53
    origin: Embassy Quito
    classification: CONFIDENTIAL
    destination: 07QUITO2556|07QUITO2570|07QUITO2616|07QUITO953
    header:
    VZCZCXYZ0000
    OO RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHQT #0053/01 0162049
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    O 162049Z JAN 08
    FM AMEMBASSY QUITO
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8295
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
    INFO RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
    RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE
    RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 7245
    RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 2282
    RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ JAN BRASILIA 3832
    RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 2820
    RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL 3198

    ----------------- header ends ----------------

    C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000053

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    OSD / DAN MCDONALD

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2014
    TAGS: PREL MASS MOPS SNAR PTER EC CO VE
    SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR SECDEF MEETING WITH ECUADORIAN MOD
    SANDOVAL

    REF: A. 07 QUITO 2570
         ¶B. 07 QUITO 953
         ¶C. 07 QUITO 2556
         ¶D. 07 QUITO 2616

    Classified By: Ambassador Linda Jewell, for Reasons 1.4 (b&d)

    ¶1.  (C) Please accept my thanks for receiving Dr. Wellington
    Sandoval, the Ecuadorian Minister of Defense, during the
    Minister's January 23-26 visit to the U.S.  Minister
    Sandoval's visit comes at a time of opportunities and risks
    as Ecuador carries out political and economic reforms through
    its Constituent Assembly.  While the Correa government
    clearly presents some concerns and uncertainties, cooperation
    on counter-narcotics and Northern Border security has in fact
    been very good to date.  Sandoval is pragmatic, positively
    inclined, and well-positioned to play a helpful role on these
    issues moving forward.  I am convinced that dialogue with the
    MOD will maximize our prospects for continuing constructive
    bilateral military cooperation to our mutual benefit.  Our
    goal during the Minister's visit is to demonstrate U.S.
    interest in advancing relations with the Correa government on
    issues of mutual concern.

    Fragile Democracy, Correa's Commitment to Change
    --------------------------------------------- ---

    ¶2.  (C) Our top goal in Ecuador is to promote and support
    democratic stability by strengthening democratic
    institutions.  A critical component of this effort is
    limiting the corrosive effects of the regional drug trade on
    Ecuador, as well as the risks associated with Colombian
    guerrilla activity along Ecuador,s Northern border region.
    Ecuador is a fragile democracy caught in a cycle of political
    instability reflecting popular disillusionment with
    traditional institutions.  Inaugurated in January 2007,
    Rafael Correa is the first president since the 1979 return to
    democracy to enjoy popularity in all regions of the country
    and among a broad array of class and demographic groups.

    ¶3.  (C) Correa won election by successfully presenting
    himself as the "change" candidate to a population frustrated
    by the chaotic and corrupt governments of recent years.  Thus
    far, Correa has proven adept at maintaining public support
    using a combination of confrontational tactics, pragmatic
    deal-making, and programs to assist the poor.  He is seeking
    adoption of reforms through an unbounded Constituent
    Assembly, inaugurated on November 29.  The Assembly is
    rewriting the constitution, which would be approved in a
    subsequent referendum, and adopting laws that take effect
    immediately.  It has declared the Congress, elected in 2006,
    in indefinite recess.  Our position is that constitutional
    reform is an internal Ecuadorian issue, but that it is
    essential that the reform process proceed in a manner
    consistent with the region's democratic values.

    ¶4.  (C) While Correa is sympathetic to some of Chavez's
    ideas, Correa's policies reflect primarily Ecuadorian
    realities and dynamics.  He is a nationalist first, and a
    leftist second.  He chafes at Ecuador,s traditional
    dependency on the U.S., but is not avowedly anti-American (he
    and other close family members have lived in the U.S. and he
    expresses a genuine affinity for many aspects of U.S.
    society).  He does not want to be seen as following anyone,s
    example, but rather charting his own course.

    Northern Border
    ---------------

    ¶5.  (SBU) Ecuador shares a 400-mile border with Colombia in
    areas of heavy narco-terrorist activity.  USG efforts in the
    area aim to prevent spillover of drug cultivation and illegal
    armed group activity into Ecuador.  They include development
    assistance to improve the quality of life and spur licit
    economic growth; counter-narcotics aid to curb smuggling of
    precursor chemicals, cocaine, and heroin; and
    military-to-military assistance to strengthen Ecuador's
    ability to secure its Northern Border and control its
    territorial waters.

    ¶6.  (C) The Ecuadorian Army's Fourth Division has engaged the

    FARC in a series of operations along the border with Colombia
    since last November (Ref A).  These operations demonstrate
    previously uncharacteristic resolve and coordination by the
    Ecuadorian military to press the attack and to continue
    surveillance and patrolling its border to engage additional
    FARC camps.

    ¶7.  (C) The GOE's political will to control its Northern
    Border and to remove incursions of armed insurgents within
    its territory appear to have increased after Minister
    Sandoval's fact-finding trip to the Northern Border last
    November.  The MOD was surprised to find a heavier than
    expected FARC presence and a local population unwilling to
    reveal this presence.  Ecuadorian policy under this and
    previous governments is to refrain from labeling the FARC as
    terrorists and to maintain a neutral position on Colombia,s
    internal conflict, not just for ideological reasons but to
    avoid becoming a target of FARC attacks (especially the
    strategic oil infrastructure located near the Northern
    Border).  Yet Sandoval has been unusually outspoken about how
    FARC incursions represent a threat to Ecuador's sovereignty.
    I recommend that you praise GOE efforts along the Northern
    Border and assure the Minister of our continued assistance.

    Counter-Narcotics Cooperation
    -----------------------------

    ¶8.  (C) Ecuadorian leaders have identified narcotraffickers
    and other criminal organizations as a threat to national
    sovereignty, and are focusing the police, military, judiciary
    and others on disrupting and dismantling these organizations.
     Since 2001, the Embassy's Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS)
    has provided almost $94 million to enhance the capacity of
    the anti-narcotics police throughout Ecuador, to assist the
    military in providing security for citizens and protecting
    Ecuador's sovereignty on the northern and maritime borders,
    and improve the criminal justice system.  However, the GOE
    has been critical of the cuts in NAS funding, down to just
    over $7 million in 2008 from nearly $20 million in 2004, in
    light of the GOE,s continued anti-narcotics efforts.  It
    would be helpful for you to explain that these cuts are due
    to worldwide budgetary pressures, and do not reflect
    Ecuador,s efforts or cooperation, which has been excellent.

    Plan Ecuador
    ------------

    ¶9.  (SBU) We understand that Minister Sandoval will raise
    Plan Ecuador, which was unveiled by President Correa in April
    2007 as a guide to GOE and international donor development
    activity in the Northern Border region thru 2018.  Long on
    general themes and short on specifics, the Plan lists seven
    goals in development activity (Ref B).  If the Minister asks
    for USG support, your response could be that we appreciate
    the importance of integrating developmental and security
    efforts.  Improved coordination by the GOE of both national
    and donor community programs is useful.  USAID has focused on
    development support in the region for several years,
    providing over $78 million in assistance since 2001.

    Manta FOL
    ---------

    ¶10.  (C) The U.S. military presence in Manta remains
    controversial, and President Correa has repeatedly vowed that
    he will not renew the agreement when it expires in November
    ¶2009.  We regard this as a sovereignty-based position linked
    to domestic politics, rather than an indicator of weakening
    GOE commitment to broader CN efforts or bilateral military
    cooperation.  Prior to an intensive Embassy public affairs
    effort over the past year, most Ecuadorians had a limited or
    misinformed perception about the FOL.  Polls in 2006 showed
    that a strong majority of Ecuadorians opposed "foreign
    troops" on national soil.  Attitudes have softened thanks to
    our efforts to create a more informed public.  In an August
    2007 poll, 75 percent of respondents agreed that Ecuador
    should collaborate with the U.S. in the fight against
    narcotrafficking, and the positive answers to FOL-specific
    questions hovered around 50 percent, and higher in Manta
    itself.  Correa is mindful of the FOL,s relative popularity
    in Manta based on economic benefits and is seeking to fill

    that gap post-2009.  He is pursuing a plan to make Manta the
    "gateway for trade" between East Asia and South America,
    taking advantage of the excellent deep water port and the
    potential offered by the airport (Refs C and D).  You will
    want to emphasize that FOL operations are producing important
    results in the fight against transnational crime, benefiting
    both countries.
    JEWELL

    =======================CABLE ENDS============================

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