Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12779 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16 2011/05/17 2011/05/18 2011/05/19 2011/05/20

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/07
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/10
1994/12
1996/11
1997/06 1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AORC AFIN ASEC AR APER AMGT AEMR ADANA AF AY AMED AADP ARF AS AINF AG ACS AID ASEAN AU ABLD AM AJ AL AMCHAMS ADPM APECO APEC AE AECL ACAO ANET AGAO ATRN ALOW ACOA AA AFFAIRS AND APCS ADCO AORG ABUD AROC AO AODE ACABQ AX AMEX AFGHANISTAN AZ ASUP ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AFSI AFSN AC ASIG AUC ASEX AER AVERY AGRICULTURE ASCH AFU AMG ATPDEA ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL ADM AN AIT AGR AGMT
BA BR BM BL BO BD BEXP BU BK BTIO BG BT BP BB BY BH BX BC BILAT BRUSSELS BIDEN BE BF BBSR BMGT BWC BN BTIU
CO CLINTON CS CH CU CVIS CE CI CA CASC CAC CMGT CPAS CL CIDA CONS CR CWC CIC CW CY CJAN CG CBW CDG CN CT CD CACS CV CARSON CM CAPC COPUOS CHR CTR CBSA CDC CONDOLEEZZA CICTE CYPRUS COUNTER COUNTRY CODEL CBE CFED COM CKGR CVR COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE COE CARICOM CB CSW CITT CACM CDB CF CJUS CTM CAN CLMT CBC CIA CNARC CIS CROS CEUDA
DA DEA DHS DAO DCM DE DR DJ DOD DOMESTIC DO DK DPRK DEPT DISENGAGEMENT DOE DTRA DS DEFENSE DEAX
EUN EWWT ETTC EFIN ECON ETRD EG EAID ENRG ECPS EAIR EIND EINV EPET EMIN EZ ECIN EN EUR EFIS ELAB EAGR EXIM EU EPA EC ELTN ER ET EUREM EXTERNAL EFTA ENIV ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS EFINECONCS EI EINT ERNG ES ECUN EK EUMEM ENERG ELECTIONS ECONOMY ECA ENGR ETRC ENVI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ELN EINVEFIN ETC ENVR EAP EINN ECONOMIC EXBS ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EAIDS EREL EINVETC ECONCS ETRA ESA EAIG EUC ERD ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ECINECONCS
FI FTAA FJ FTA FR FOR FBI FOREIGN FDA FM FMLN FAO FISO FAC FREEDOM FINANCE FARC FINR FOI FO FAS
GG GE GR GM GAERC GT GOI GV GY GA GH GCC GANGS GTIP GOV GTMO GL GF GZ GAZA GLOBAL GERARD
HILLARY HA HR HO HU HSTC HK HI HURI HUMAN HYMPSK HEBRON HUMOR
IMO IZ IR IAEA IT IS IN ICJ IDP ILO IV ICTR IC IWC ICRC ITRA ICAO IO ICTY ITU IBRD IAHRC IRC ID IEFIN IQ IMF IRAQI ITALY ISRAELI IPR IIP INMARSAT ITPGOV ITALIAN INTERNAL IRS IA INTERPOL IEA INR INRB ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ ILC IF ITPHUM IL IACI INDO IDA ISLAMISTS IGAD ITF INRA INRO IBET INTELSAT
JO JA JOHN JP JOHNNIE JAMES JUS JOSEPH JM
KSCA KDEM KV KNNP KCOR KISL KPAO KJUS KIPR KE KOMC KVPR KHLS KCRM KPAL KAWC KUNR KPKO KWMN KWBG KFSC KIRF KZ KPLS KS KN KGHG KSTC KTIA KMFO KID KTIP KSEP KFRD KNAR KTFN KTEX KFLU KCFE KFLO KMDR KMIG KSUM KRVC KBCT KO KVIR KIDE KMPI KOLY KIRC KHDP KSAF KGIT KBIO KBTR KGIC KWMM KPRV KSTH KHSA KPOA KU KR KVRP KENV KPRP KICC KSPR KG KAWK KDRG KTBT KNSD KX KNEI KMCA KCRS KCIP KCRCM KBTS KSEO KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KACT KFIN KOCI KNUP KTDB KPAONZ KNUC KNNPMNUC KERG KSCI KTLA KHIV KCSY KTRD KWAC KMRS KNPP KJUST KPWR KCOM KAID KCMR KTER KRCM KCFC KSAC KCHG KREL KFTFN KLIG KDEMAF KRAD KGCC KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRGY KREC KIFR KWMNCS KPAK KOMS KRIM KDDG KMOC KCGC KPAI
LE LY LG LH LU LI LA LOG LTTE LAB LO LT LABOR
MARR MTCRE MNUC MOPS MASS MX MCAP MW MY MD MO MARAD MG MR MAS MK MEDIA MU ML MC MTCR MAPP MZ MIL MPOS MP MA MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MAR MEPN MEPI MASC MEETINGS MERCOSUR MT MCC MIK MAPS MV MILITARY MI MDC MEPP MASSMNUC MUCN MQADHAFI MTRE MRCRE MPS
NATO NPT NO NU NI NZ NV NSF NASA NP NPG NL NGO NS NR NK NA NG NSG NEW NE NSSP NATIONAL NDP NIPP NZUS NH NAFTA NC NRR NT NAR NATOPREL NSC NPA NSFO NW NORAD
OVIP OAS OPDC OSCE OPIC OECD OEXC OTRA OIIP OPRC ODIP OCS OPAD OIC OVP OREP OSCI OFDP OPCW OHUM OFFICIALS OIE OTR OMIG OSAC OBSP OFDA ON OCII OES
PREL PTER PHSA PHUM PGOV PARM PINR PBTS PINS PE PM PK PREF PO PSEPC PA POSTS PAS POL PDOV PL PRAM PROV POLITICS POLICY PCI PAHO PHUMPGOV POV PG PREO PAO PMIL PREFA PSI POLITICAL PROP PAIGH PALESTINIAN PARMS PROG PBIO PTERE PRGOV PORG PP PS PGOF PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PNG PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA PNR POLINT PNAT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PDEM PECON PAK PGOC PY PLN PHUH PF PHUS PTBS PU PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PINL PBT PINF PRL
QA
RU RS RW RSO ROOD RO RP RM REACTION REGION ROBERT RCMP RICE RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RIGHTSPOLMIL RUPREL RFE REPORT
SNAR SNARCS SZ SY SENV SOCI SA SEVN SCUL SW SO SR SPCE SARS SMIG SNARN SU SP SI SNARIZ SYR SIPRS SG SWE SL SAARC SF SEN SCRS SC STEINBERG SYRIA SENVKGHG SN SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SANC SHI SHUM SK SH
TSPA TRGY TU TPHY THPY TBIO TD TT TSPL TW TNGD TIP TZ TS TF TN TL TV TX TH TC TI TK TERRORISM TO TRSY TURKEY TINT TP TFIN TAGS TR TBID
UN UNGA UK UNMIK UNSC UNHRC UNAUS USTR US UNEP UP UY UZ UNESCO USUN UNHCR UNO UV UG USNC UNCHR USOAS UNCND USEU USPS USAID UE UNVIE UAE UNDP UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS UNDC UNICEF UNCHC UNCSD UNFCYP UNIDROIT
VZ VE VT VM VN VTIZ VTPREL VTEG VAT VC VI
WHO WTRO WI WMD WIPO WBG WTO WS WZ WWARD WHA WITH WTRQ WEU WMO WA WHTI WFP WB
XF XA XW XB XU XV XL XG XK XM XS XR XT XY XX XE XZ XH XD XC XQ XI XTAG
YI YM YMCS YE
ZI ZP ZU ZR ZEALAND ZO ZL ZOELLICK ZF ZB ZJ ZN ZA ZK ZANU

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 05QUITO650, UN ENVOY'S VISIT: ALL POTATOES, NO MEAT

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05QUITO650.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
05QUITO650 | 2005-03-22 22:12 | 2011-05-02 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Quito

`

    This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 QUITO 000650

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KCOR EC
    SUBJECT: UN ENVOY'S VISIT:  ALL POTATOES, NO MEAT

    REF: QUITO 585

    ¶1.  SUMMARY:  Attempting to spur dialog toward an eventual
    solution to Ecuador's ongoing court crisis, UN Rapporteur
    Leandro Despouy visited Quito March 13-18 for a series of
    meetings with pro-government forces, political opposition,
    and third-party actors.  Great expectations surrounded
    Despouy's visit, and political bickering between President
    Lucio Gutierrez and his enemies dropped precipitously during
    the envoy's stay.  Initial readouts showed Despouy
    identifying problems, but offering few fixes.  END SUMMARY.

    ¶2.  Despouy, the UN's Geneva-based rapporteur for judicial
    independence, arrived in Quito March 13 with the conflict
    over Ecuador's Supreme Court in full-swing (Reftel).
    Opposition forces were clamoring for the immediate dismissal
    of the current tribunal and its replacement with a less
    "politicized" body, although they differed on specifics.
    President Gutierrez continued to push his referendum
    solution, although he introduced an altered text in response
    to criticism over the original's complexity.  Government
    allies PRIAN and PRE, both benefiting from the current
    judicial lineup, favored the status quo.  Even Ecuadorian
    civil society and NGOs lay divided; although most called the
    current Court illegitimate, others, like Zero Corruption,
    defended it to the hilt.

    ¶3.  All welcomed Despouy's visit, at least publicly (the GoE
    had tried to delay it until April or May, but eventually
    accepted the March date).  The opposition and most media
    outlets claimed the former Argentinean diplomat would, after
    analyzing events of the last four months, declare
    unconstitutional and illegal Congress's actions in revamping
    Ecuador's Supreme, Constitutional, and Electoral Courts.  GoE
    and pro-government forces sought the opposite, of course;
    that Despouy would agree that Ecuador's judiciary had been
    hopelessly politicized, corrupt, and in need of overhaul.

    ¶4.  On behalf of the Ambassador, Poloff attended a UN Mission
    Ecuador-hosted March 16 dinner honoring the visiting
    rapporteur.  Despouy was pleased with the welcome he had
    received from opposition and government alike.  He offered
    that, while Gutierrez initially had fought the visit, he had
    "seen the light" as opposition to the Court mounted -- the UN
    rep might be an ally in the president's bid to remain in
    office, the theory went, not an enemy.

    ¶5.  Complicating his work immensely, Despouy noted there were
    no real "victims" from the recent judicial shenanigans in
    Ecuador, no clearly wronged group.  None of his interlocutors
    (save the ex-jurists themselves) had demanded the old Court's
    return, for example.  Yet new members could only offer
    political justifications, not persuasive legal arguments, for
    the judicial putsch.  Gutierrez and allies deserved blame for
    their quasi-constitutional sackings of Ecuador's highest
    tribunals, Despouy reasoned.  But so did the opposition; the
    envoy believed the court crisis's roots lay in the November
    attempt in Congress, led by former President Leon
    Febres-Cordero, to impeach the president.

    ¶6.  A similar conflict occurring in neighboring nations might
    have spawned violence, Despouy ventured, a compliment to
    Ecuadorians' peaceful natures.  But even Ecuadorians had
    their limits.  Sooner, not later, the nation needed an
    independent, respected judiciary.  Although he favored a
    limited Congressional role and "cooptacion" -- in which the
    Court itself fills any vacancies -- Despouy tabled no
    specific proposals for overcoming the current crisis.

    ¶7.  The rapporteur was similarly vague the following evening.
     Via UN Mission Director Mauricio Valdes, he had sought an
    urgent private meeting with the Ambassador to discuss his
    visit and observation.  Appearing drained, perhaps the
    product of four hours with Gutierrez that morning, Despouy
    downed two scotches in succession and lamented the
    president's weaknesses.  Poor advisors topped the list;
    Gutierrez, himself desiring an amicable compromise, was
    surrounded (and influenced) by cronies who sought
    unconditional surrender.  Congress too was a problem, Despouy
    believed, and the president was correct in fearing
    additional, politically motivated impeachment attempts.

    ¶8.  Despite continuing conflict, the UN envoy believed a
    solution to the court crisis lay ahead, although how far he
    did not mention.  Nor did he reveal details of his action
    plan to the Ambassador.  What would he tell the press upon
    departure, she questioned.  Despouy looked perplexed, as if
    he had not thought so far (12 hours) in advance.

    ¶9.  Speaking before media March 18, the judicial rapporteur
    raised problems, not roadmaps.  He had identified "various
    irregularities, both in dismissing the old Court and naming
    the new."  The Court's most recent, controversial maneuver,
    wresting administrative and disciplinary authorities from the
    National Judiciary Council, also seemed a troubling power
    grab.  And Ecuador's Electoral Tribunal, composed of
    representatives of the nation's largest parties, appeared
    less the electoral watchdog, and more a political pork
    disbursor.

    ¶10.  It was imperative that Ecuador establish rule of law,
    Despouy urged; a critical prerequisite was an independent
    judiciary.  The current Court enjoyed no respect, with even
    Gutierrez calling it temporary.  Any process to replace it
    must be constitutional and transparent, however.  He would
    present his findings to the UN Human Rights Commission upon
    return to Geneva, and would follow up on its findings.  UN
    Mission Quito sources subsequently told the media that
    Despouy soon would present his preliminary report. It
    represented a "warning shot" to the GoE to resolve the
    impasse, fast.

    ¶11.  COMMENT:  We are left believing that Despouy's visit
    mattered not for its concrete advances -- which seem
    nonexistent -- but for its mere occurrence and catalytic
    effects.  Summing our views perfectly was administration
    critic (and regular US-basher) Carlos Vera, who titled his
    March 16 editorial "Stay, Mr. Despouy."  Vera attributed the
    drop in bickering and Gutierrez's call for dialog to the
    rapporteur's attention.  Third-country diplomats attending
    the Despouy dinner March 16 shared Vera's views.  Only the
    United Nations, they believed, could save Ecuador from its
    current mess, like some deus ex machina from an ancient Greek
    drama.  In other words, that the "Emperor wore no clothes"
    mattered nil to a blind (but wishing to see) public.  END
    COMMENT.
    KENNEY

`