IMPROVING ECUADOR-COLOMBIA RELATIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 QUITO 002207

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/26/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL EC
SUBJECT: IMPROVING ECUADOR-COLOMBIA RELATIONS


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


1. (C) Summary: Communication and relations between
President Palacio and President Uribe remain good,
highlighted by recent GOE action against the FARC here. But
the GOE continues to insist that aerial spraying of
pesticides be suspended along the border while a new study is
prepared. Palacio's mention of the issue in his UNGA speech
is an attempt to hand off the fumigation issue to
international experts, but means the issue will certainly
survive the upcoming change of Foreign Minister. We are
hopeful that the change will lower the tone of the GOE's
public discourse on Colombia. Fumigation and FARC semantics
are second-tier issues with domestic political ramifications
here, requiring more work between the two governments. We
are encouraging the GOE and Colombian Embassy here to use
dialogue to increase understanding and overcome bilateral
differences. End Summary.

Presidential Relations Good
--------------


2. (C) Palacio called the Ambassador on September 23 to
relate his conversation with Uribe the night before, in which
he relayed news of the GOE arrest and prospective deportation
to Colombia of high FARC leader Marcial Eduardo Campana
Pineda. The deportation took place the morning of September

24. Palacio seemed elated by the effect of the news on
Uribe, who welcomed it.


3. (C) Uribe took the opportunity to ask Palacio's views on
whether the GOC should grant ex-president Lucio Gutierrez
political asylum. (Note: Gutierrez applied for asylum on
September 21, and was granted interim status to stay in
Colombia while his application is considered, for 90 days.
Terms of the interim status reportedly prohibit political
statements, forcing Gutierrez to cancel planned public
activities, according to press reports here.)


4. (C) Palacio told the Ambassador that he replied to Uribe
that Gutierrez' status in Colombia is an internal Colombian
matter in which he would not interfere, except to deny that
Gutierrez is the victim of political persecution by the GOE.


5. (C) National Police Chief Jose Vinueza related the same
conversation slightly differently to the DCM on September 24.
Vinueza claimed to be present during the conversation, but
said that when asked about Gutierrez (and at Vinueza's
suggestion),Palacio warned Uribe to be careful of Gutierrez'
links to the FARC. Vinueza also said Gutierrez is in
possession of an air ticket returning to Peru around October

20. For his part, he believed it would be better for
Gutierrez to be granted asylum with accompanying restrictions
(on political activity),since he enjoys excellent relations
with his Colombian counterpart, which would help the GOE
monitor Gutierrez' activities in Colombia.

Fumigation Issue Not Going Away
--------------


6. (C) The main issue dividing the two neighbors is the
GOE's request that Colombia suspend aerial pesticide
fumigation of coca crops within 10 km of the Ecuador-Colombia
border. Both countries support a compromise move to request
that an international health institution (e.g. WHO, PAHO)
conduct a scientific investigation of the effects of spraying
on Ecuadorians living near the border. However, FM Parra
refused to sign a joint declaration to that effect after
meeting with his counterpart in Bogota on August 31, because
the GOC was unwilling to suspend aerial spraying during the
study.


7. (C) Speculation that the impending change of Foreign
Minister here, projected for early October, might affect the
fumigation issue was put to rest when President Palacio
included the issue in his recent UNGA speech. Palacio has
also stated publicly that incoming FM Francisco Carrion would
change the tone, but not the content, of bilateral dialogue
with Colombia.

FARC Designation Another Thorn
--------------


8. (C) Shortly after taking office, Minister of Defense
Oswaldo Jarrin added fuel to the bilateral fire by publicly
insisting that the GOE does not consider the FARC to be
terrorists, and has never designated them as such. Parra and
Palacio have since publicly refused to label the FARC, citing
the GOE's policy of non-intervention. Colombian Ambassador
to the U.S. Andres Pastrana criticized these statements
publicly at a university forum in which incoming FM Carrion
was present, saying Colombia needed solidarity, not
equivocation, from its neighbor. Carrion refused to comment
for the GOE, deferring publicly to Parra. Jarrin told the
Ambassador, after the recent breakup of the FARC camp in
Ecuador, that he would give no respite to the FARC and had
given orders to the military accordingly, a stance that
signals stronger action than in the past.

Comment
--------------


9. (C) On balance, bilateral relations between the two
neighboring countries are solid, if publicly marred by
non-essential issues. We are most encouraged that Palacio's
efforts to assertively combat the FARC presence in Ecuador
signal cooperation on core interests. The fluid dialogue
between the two leaders is also positive.


10. (C) Fumigation and semantics about the FARC are
second-tier issues with domestic political ramifications
here, requiring more work between the two. We are
coordinating closely with the Colombian Embassy in Quito,
which seems relatively sanguine about the situation. With
some additional work, the fumigation issue will head into a
technical study phase. We expect the issue will not only
outlast Parra's tenure in the Foreign Ministry but perhaps
Palacio's turn in office as well. We do not see advantage in
the USG taking a public lead on the issue. Rather, we will
continue to encourage better communication from behind the
scenes.
JEWELL