ECUADOR FAVORING INSULZA, EMBASSY PROMOTING FLORES

UNCLAS QUITO 000364

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS USOAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC PREL EC
SUBJECT: ECUADOR FAVORING INSULZA, EMBASSY PROMOTING FLORES

REF: A. SECSTATE 25152


B. QUITO 280

C. QUITO 121


1. The Ambassador and El Salvador's envoy to Ecuador, Rafael
Alfaro, approached GoE FM Patricio Zuquilanda February 2 to
promote Fernando Flores's OAS SYG candidacy (Ref B details
Flores-specific portions of the Ambassador's most-recent call
on Ecuadorian President Gutierrez). Employing points similar
to those of Ref A, they praised the Salvadoran ex-president's
qualifications, track record, and exuberance. Zuquilanda
listened politely but offered no substantive response.


2. In order to measure support for competing OAS SYG
candidates and thus help us to fine-tune our lobbying, the
Ambassador later called on Chilean Ambassador to Ecuador
Nelson Haddad. Haddad claimed he liked the chances of
Chile's candidate, GoC Interior Minister Ricardo Insulza. He
clammed up when pressed for an explanation, however. The
Ambassador will meet with the Mexican envoy February 16 to
gauge backing for GoM candidate FM Luis Derbez.


3. Insulza visited Quito February 10 in search of Ecuador's
vote, calling on both Gutierrez and Zuquilanda and meeting
extensively with the press. In public remarks, the Chilean
extolled the close bilateral relations Ecuador and Chile had
long maintained and his desires to see them strengthened.
Local media coverage was favorable, although neither
Gutierrez nor Zuquilanda publicly proclaimed support for the
Chilean minister's candidacy. In Panama February 11, Insulza
reportedly claimed that Gutierrez privately had promised him
Ecuador's OAS vote.


4. COMMENT: Although Ecuador appears in Chile's camp, our
pro-Flores campaign continues. The Ambassador will engage
other Central American COMs at a February 16 meeting, seeking
consensus isthmus support for the Salvadoran SYG candidate.
A week later, Flores travels to Quito on his own
self-promotion tour. Ambassador Alfaro has invited us to
participate in events honoring his ex-president, which we
expect will draw high-level GoE attendance and allow us
another chance to sing Flores's praises.
Kenney