GOE STILL NOT CONVINCED ON UNSC REFERRAL FOR IRAN

UNCLAS QUITO 002152 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL IR EU MNUC IAEA SUBJECT: GOE STILL NOT CONVINCED ON UNSC REFERRAL FOR IRAN REF: A. STATE 168950 ¶B. STATE 00011 ¶1. (SBU) PolOff faxed RefTel points on September 15 and followed up with a telephone call on September 19 to MFA Director for Multilateral Affairs, Miguel Mendez, requesting that the GOE consider referring Iran to the UN Security Council. PolOff mentioned that the Secretary had raised this issue with President Palacio at their recent meeting in New York (ref B). Mendez said he understood USG concerns over Iran's actions, but added that the GOE still has not taken a position on the UNSC referral. However, Mendez again stressed that the GOE supports full, transparent dialogue on Iran, adding that they will only consider UNSC referral when all other diplomatic means are exhausted. JEWELL