C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 002008

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS USOAS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2015
TAGS: KSUM SOCI PGOV EC
SUBJECT: FM PARRA TO CARACAS SOCIAL CHARTER EVENT, NOT TO
RESIGN

REF: SECSTATE 154693

Classified By: PolChief Erik Hall for reasons 1.4 (b&d)


1. (C) PolChief conveyed reftel points to acting MFA U/S for
Multilateral Affairs, Carmen Larrea on August 24.


2. (C) Larrea confirmed that FM Parra would attend the
August 28 OAS Social Charter event in Caracas.


3. (C) According to Larrea, the GOE is in accord with the
U.S. position that the Social Charter negotiation be by
consensus, and led by the General Secretariat. She expressed
understanding of USG concern that Chavez' initiative could
risk breaking with good faith efforts to develop consensus.
Nevertheless, she said, the GOE recognizes the GOV's
long-standing interest and advocacy in favor of a Social
Charter. She noted that the GOV had been inclusive in
inviting all OAS nations to send representatives to Caracas.


4. (C) Larrea agreed that only a consensus document
developed by the General Secretariat with input from all
interested nations should serve as the basis for
negotiations. She had briefed FM Parra before he left Quito
(for a ministerial in Bariloche, then Caracas), and as far as
she knew, he is in agreement with this position.
Accordingly, Parra would not offer a GOE position on the
Venezuelan proposal per se; instead, the GOE would consider
all proposals and seek to advance the Charter negotiation
through consensus building.


5. (C) Larrea also denied rumors that Parra was intending to
resign, saying that as acting MFA spokesperson, she had
confronted him about his intentions on August 23. Parra
publicly denied the rumors on August 24, speaking to the
Ecuadorian press from Argentina.


6. (C) Comment: While agreeing with our demarche points
about process, we sense strong sympathy within the GOE (at
least in the MFA) for the GOV proposal. Larrea admitted as
much on a personal level, while acknowledging that the
proposed charter was "utopic."

JEWELL