ECUADOR FAVORING CHILEAN FOR OAS SYG

UNCLAS QUITO 000280

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC PREL EC ES
SUBJECT: ECUADOR FAVORING CHILEAN FOR OAS SYG

REF: A. SECSTATE 18697


B. QUITO 121


1. In response to Ref A, Ambassador discussed the upcoming
OAS Secretary General election during her February 3 meeting
with Ecuador President Lucio Gutierrez. Gutierrez mentioned
that former El Salvador President Paco Flores, whom the
United States backed for the OAS position, would soon visit
Ecuador. He shared the Ambassador's favorable opinion of the
Central American leader.


2. Ecuador's vote was in demand, Gutierrez claimed. In
recent weeks he had received calls from Mexican President
Vicente Fox, Salvadoran President Elias Saca and Chilean
President Ricardo Lagos, seeking support for respective
candidates (Ref B). Gutierrez had heard rumors that Flores
was not Central America's consensus candidate, further
complicating the election. Ecuador was leaning toward
throwing its ballot Chile's way, however, in support of South
American solidarity. Believing a contested OAS election
counterproductive to hemispheric interests, Gutierrez hoped
OAS nations could reach consensus before the vote.


3. COMMENT: Affinity for Chile and desires to foment that
bilateral relationship, not support for South American unity,
underpin Ecuador's likely decision to back its southern
neighbor.
Kenney