ECUADOR: MONITORS FOR BOLIVIAN ELECTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 002715 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: TEN YEARS TAGS: PGOV PREL EC SUBJECT: ECUADOR: MONITORS FOR BOLIVIAN ELECTIONS REF: SECSTATE: 214591 Classified By: PolOff Jarahn Hillsman, Reasons 1.4 (b&d) ¶1. (C) PolOff delivered RefTel points on November 29 to MFA Director of Bilateral Affairs Rafael Veintimilla. GOB diplomats declined our invitation to jointly deliver the points, but asked that we share the outcome. Veintimilla said that the GOE is supportive of the need to see Bolivia strengthen its democratic institutions and processes, and suggested that the GOE might be amenable to sending election monitors. However, he said that GOE participation would have to be financed by the GOB, OAS, or another external source. PolOff passed the information to Bolivian Minister Maria Lourdes Espinoza, who thanked us for our efforts and said she would discuss the issue with La Paz. BROWN