ECUADOR ENGAGEMENT IN HAITI UNWAVERING

UNCLAS QUITO 001924 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPKO MARR HA EC SUBJECT: ECUADOR ENGAGEMENT IN HAITI UNWAVERING REF: SECSTATE 149277 ¶1. (SBU) PolChief conveyed reftel points urging continued Ecuadorian military support for the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) to VFM Marcelo Fernandez de Cordova on February 17. ¶2. (SBU) Fernandez said he would not attend the vice-ministerial meeting in Santiago August 19; the GOE would be represented by its local ambassador. Fernandez said that the agenda for discussion on Haiti for the Santiago meeting was very general--and claimed to be unaware that any Latin American troop contributors intend to discuss early withdrawal of forces from Haiti. ¶3. (SBU) For its part, the MFA fully supports the U.S. position that troops should not be withdrawn until local conditions in Haiti permit. The GOE recently sent a second contingent of 66 Army engineers to Haiti for a six-month deployment. Fernandez said he would confirm with GOE military leadership that there is no intention to withdraw them prematurely. ¶4. (SBU) DAO military contacts confirm that the GOE is planning to replace the current troop contingent in Haiti in November. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: GOE engagement in Haiti was done through a joint agreement with close Ecuadorian ally Chile, and the GOE is likely to continue to follow Chile's lead there. We will continue to encourage the GOE to stay the course in Haiti in support of MINUSTAH. MEMMOTT