GOE REJECTS IRANIAN REMARKS, CONSIDERING STATEMENT

UNCLAS QUITO 002499 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL EC SUBJECT: GOE REJECTS IRANIAN REMARKS, CONSIDERING STATEMENT REF: STATE 199225 ¶1. PolChief, British DCM Peter Evans, and PolOff delivered RefTel points on November 1 to Ambassadors Rafael Veintimilla and Marco Samaniego of MFA Bilateral Relations, requesting that the GOE publicly reject President Ahmadi-Nejad's call to "wipe Israel off the map." Veintimilla said that the GOE found Ahmadi-Nejad's statement objectionable and reprehensible, but stopped short of offering to make a public statement. He said he would raise US/UK objections with the FM. PolChief urged Ecuador to raise its voice with the international community. ¶2. Evans said British FM Straw had issued a statement and also cited the public objections of UN Secretary Kofi General Annan. He later told us that he would deliver Straw's statement to the MFA later today, adding that the UK is also pressing other diplomatic missions in London. The French Embassy declined to participate in this joint demarche, saying that France was instead raising its concerns directly with other embassies in Paris. Veintimilla confirmed that the Russians had already raised the issue with the Ecuadorian mission in Moscow. ¶3. Ambassador Veintimilla stated that Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Jalili, visiting Ecuador recently, called on Foreign Minister Carrion. According to Veintimilla, Jalili discussed enhancing bilateral relations, Iran's desire to develop nuclear capabilities for civilian use only, and conveyed Tehran's disappointment with the GOE's vote to refer Iran to the UNSC. Veintimilla also reported that Carrion told Jalili that the GOE has no objection to civilian nuclear programs, but strongly rejected any proliferation of military nuclear technology. JEWELL