Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12850 / 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 2011/05/21 2011/05/22

### 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
1996/07 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 Consulate Karachi
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
AE AEMR AORC APER AR AF ASEC AG AFIN AMGT APECO AS AMED AER ADCO AVERY AU AM APEC ABUD AGRICULTURE ASEAN ACOA AJ AO ABLD ADPM AY ASCH AFFAIRS AA AC ARF AFU AINF AODE AMG ATPDEA AGAO ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AID AL AORL ADM AFSI AFSN ASUP AN AIT ANET ASIG AGMT ADANA AADP ACS AGR AMCHAMS AECL ACAO AND AUC ATRN ALOW APCS AORG AROC ACABQ AX AMEX AFGHANISTAN AZ ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ ASEX
BR BA BRUSSELS BG BEXP BO BM BBSR BU BL BK BT BD BMGT BY BX BTIO BB BH BF BP BWC BN BTIU BIDEN BE BILAT BC
CA CJAN CASC CS CO CH CI CD CVIS CR CU CN CY CONDOLEEZZA CE CG CMGT CF CPAS CDC CW CJUS CTM CM CFED CODEL CWC CBW CAN CLMT CBC CONS COUNTERTERRORISM CIA CDG CIC COUNTER CT CNARC CACM CB CV CIDA CLINTON CHR COE CIS CBSA CEUDA COM CAC CL CACS CAPC CARSON CTR COPUOS CICTE CYPRUS COUNTRY CBE CKGR CVR CITEL CLEARANCE CARICOM CSW CITT CDB CROS
DS DJ DEFENSE DR DA DTRA DEA DHS DO DEAX DAO DCM DE DOD DOMESTIC DK DPRK DEPT DISENGAGEMENT DOE
ECON EAID EINV EFIN EG EAIR EU EC ENRG EPET EAGR ELAB ETTC ELTN EWWT ETRD EUN ER ECIN EMIN EIND ECPS EZ EN ECA ET EFIS ENGR EINVETC ECONCS ES EI ECONOMIC ELN EINT EPA ETRA EXTERNAL ESA ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EAIG EUR EK EUMEM EUREM EUC ENERG ERD EFTA ETRC ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ENVI ECINECONCS ELECTIONS ENVR ENIV ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS EFINECONCS ERNG ECUN EXIM ECONOMY EINVEFIN ETC EAP EINN EXBS ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EAIDS EREL
FJ FI FR FTA FTAA FBI FAC FM FDA FARC FAO FO FOR FMLN FISO FAS FINANCE FOREIGN FREEDOM FINR FOI
GM GG GLOBAL GR GV GA GE GH GTIP GT GZ GAERC GOI GCC GOV GY GANGS GTMO GL GF GAZA GERARD
HUMAN HO HA HK HR HU HURI HILLARY HYMPSK HSTC HEBRON HUMOR HI
IC IR IN IT ICAO IS IZ IAEA IV IIP ICRC IWC IRS IQ IMO ILC IMF ILO IF ITPHUM IL IO ID ISRAEL IACI INMARSAT IPR ICTY ICJ INDO IA IDA IBRD IAHRC ISLAMISTS IGAD ITU ITF INRA INRO INRB ITALY IBET INTELSAT ISRAELI IDP ICTR ITRA IEFIN IRC IRAQI ITPGOV ITALIAN INTERNAL INTERPOL IEA INR IZPREL IRAJ
JA JP JO JM JOSEPH JUS JAMES JOHN JOHNNIE
KPAO KCOR KCRM KSCA KTFN KU KDEM KNNP KJUS KWMN KTIP KPAL KPKO KWWMN KWBG KISL KN KGHG KOMC KSTC KIPR KFLU KIDE KSAF KSEO KBIO KHLS KAWC KUNR KIRF KGIC KRAD KV KGIT KZ KE KCIP KTIA KFRD KHDP KSEP KMPI KG KMDR KTDB KS KSPR KHIV KCOM KAID KOM KRVC KICC KBTS KSUM KOLY KIRC KDRG KCRS KNPP KSTH KWNM KRFD KVIR KLIG KFLO KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KVPR KTEX KTER KRGY KCFE KREC KR KPAONZ KIFR KOCI KBTR KGCC KACT KMRS KAWK KSAC KWMNCS KMCA KNEI KPOA KFIN KWAC KNAR KPLS KPAK KSCI KPRP KOMS KBCT KPWR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRIM KDDG KPRV KCGC KPAI KFSC KMFO KID KMIG KO KWMM KVRP KNSD KMOC KTBT KHSA KX KENV KCRCM KNUP KNUC KNNPMNUC KERG KTLA KCSY KTRD KJUST KCMR KRCM KCFC KCHG KREL KFTFN KDEMAF KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV
LY LE LG LH LABOR LI LO LA LU LOG LTTE LAB LT
MX MARR MTCRE MNUC MASS MOPS MCAP MO MA MR MAPS MD MV MY MP ML MILITARY MEPN MARAD MDC MU MEPP MIL MAPP MZ MT MASSMNUC MK MTCR MUCN MAS MEDIA MAR MI MQADHAFI MPOS MTRE MG MRCRE MPS MW MC MASC MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MCC MIK
NZ NL NATO NU NI NG NO NP NK NDP NPT NSF NR NAFTA NATOPREL NEW NA NE NSSP NS NSC NH NV NPA NSFO NT NW NASA NSG NORAD NATIONAL NPG NGO NIPP NZUS NC NRR NAR
OTRA OREP OPIC OIIP OAS OVIP OEXC ODIP OFDP OPDC OPRC OSCE OECD OPCW OSCI OMIG OVP OIE ON OCII OPAD OBSP OFFICIALS OES OCS OIC OHUM OTR OSAC OFDA
PGOV PREL PHUM PTER PINR PK PINS PARM PA PHALANAGE PARTY PROP PM PBTS PDEM PECON PL PE PREF PO POL PSOE PHSA PAK PY PLN PMAR PHUH PBIO PF PHUS PTBS PU PNAT POLITICAL PARTIES PCUL PGGV PAO PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PAS PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PP PINL PBT PG PINF PRL PALESTINIAN PSEPC POSTS PDOV PCI PAHO PROV POV PMIL PNR PREO PHUMPGOV PGOC POLITICS POLICY PRAM PREFA PSI PAIGH PJUS PARMS PROG PTERE PRGOV PORG PS PGOF PKFK PEPR PPA PINT PRELP PNG PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA POLINT PGOVE
QA
RIGHTS RU RS RW RIGHTSPOLMIL RICE RUPREL RO RF RELATIONS RP RM RFE REGION REACTION REPORT RCMP RSO ROOD ROBERT RSP
SA SNAR SOCI SENV SZ SP SO SU SF SW SY SMIG SCUL SL SENVKGHG SR SN SARS SANC SHI SIPDIS SEVN SHUM SC SI STEINBERG SK SH SNARCS SPCE SNARN SG SAARC SNARIZ SWE SYR SIPRS SYRIA SEN SCRS SAN ST SSA SPCVIS SOFA
TPHY TSPL TS TRGY TU TI TBIO TH TP TZ TW TX TSPA TFIN TC TAGS TK TIP TNGD TL TV TT TINT TERRORISM TR TN TD TBID TF THPY TO TRSY TURKEY
USEU UK UG UNGA UN UNSC US UZ UY UNHRC UNESCO USTR UNDP UP UNMIK UNEP UNO UNHCR UNAUS UNCHR UNPUOS UNDC UNICEF UNCHC UNCSD USOAS UNFCYP UNIDROIT UV USUN UNCND USNC USPS USAID UE UNVIE UAE UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNDESCO UNC
VE VZ VT VM VAT VC VI VTPREL VN VTIZ VTEG
WHO WWARD WTRO WS WHA WIPO WEU WZ WTO WMO WA WHTI WTRQ WBG WFP WB WI WMD WITH
XM XL XV XW XS XA XR XG XB XF XD XK XY XC XZ XX XU XI XT XH XQ XE XTAG
YM YI YE YMCS
ZI ZU ZF ZR ZK ZANU ZB ZEALAND ZP ZO ZL ZOELLICK ZJ ZN ZA

### 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

`