NOTES ON NEW ECUADORIAN AMBASSADOR TO UN

UNCLAS QUITO 000346 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV CU MX EC CHR SUBJECT: NOTES ON NEW ECUADORIAN AMBASSADOR TO UN REF: SECSTATE 22969 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Ambassador and DCM met with newly-named Ecuadorian Ambassador to the UN, Jaime Moncayo Garcia, to express USG interest in a collaborative relationship at the UN. Separately, PolChief raised deep USG concerns over a Mexican human rights initiative (RefTel). Moncayo expressed eagerness to engage with USUN after his arrival in New York in early March. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Moncayo met with the DCM and PolChief on February 9 at our request. The Ambassador joined the meeting to congratulate Moncayo on his posting and offer Embassy assistance to help smooth his transition to New York. Moncayo was appreciative and expressed interest in cooperative and friendly relations with USUN. He planned to call on Ambassador Anne Patterson, a friend from his time as Ambassador in Washington, shortly after his arrival in New York, in early March. ¶3. (SBU) Moncayo said he was evaluating Ecuador's chances for a temporary seat on the Security Council in 2007 (Guatemala and Venezuela are already contending within GRULAC, he said),and would report back to FM Zuquilanda once he reached a conclusion. In doing so, he said, he would also have to factor in existing resource constraints which might limit Ecuador's abilities to shoulder this additional responsibility. Ecuador is hopeful that Security Council reform (i.e., expansion) be included in a resolution for debate at the 2005 General Assembly. ¶4. (SBU) PolChief expressed to Moncayo deep USG concern that Mexico's proposed informal consultation initiative within GRULAC could be used to prevent a country-specific resolution on Cuba at the UNCHR. Moncayo was surprised to hear of the Mexican initiative, saying it seemed to go beyond GRULAC's usual non-binding and non-substantive consultative mechanisms. Comment -------------- ¶5. (SBU) We consider Moncayo to be friendly toward and open to dialogue with the United States. Traditionally, Ecuador's UN ambassadors exercise wide latitude on voting issues. Moncayo, who owes his position to FM Zuqilanda, may be less likely than his predecessor to act independently. Regardless, we encourage USUN to engage early with Moncayo to encourage mutual understanding. We will follow-up separately on the Mexico-GRULAC initiative, and encourage Ecuador's candidacy for the Commission on the Status of Women. Bio Notes -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Moncayo is a former Ambassador to the U.S. (1989-92),Finance Minister (1974-75),and member of Ecuador's negotiating team which resolved border disputes with Peru in 1998. He earned a masters degree in public and international affairs from the University of Pittsburgh in 1967, and is married to the former Susan Gurin, an AmCit. Their daughter (also an AmCit) also lives in NYC. Kenney