GOVERNMENT MINISTER SHARES (BIZARRE) VIEWS

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000061

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL EC
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT MINISTER SHARES (BIZARRE) VIEWS

REF: 03 QUITO 3027

Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney. Reason 1.4 (b&d).


1. (C) Summary: In a December 7 tour d'horizon with the
Ambassador and DCM, Government Minister Jaime Damerval
expressed willingness to cooperate to combat trafficking in
persons. He also shed (sometimes disturbing) light on his
thinking on a range of other issues, including the drug war,
the government's referendum proposal, USG support for
democracy, and security burdens caused by Colombia
spill-over. Given his views, we consider it fortunate that
Damerval is apparently not a member of the President's inner
circle. End Summary.


2. (C) The Ambassador invited Damerval to breakfast at the
residence to lobby for the minister's personal involvement on
the TIP issue, which he accepted eagerly (SepTel). He
dominated the conversation in a stream-of-consciousness flow
which, while respectful, included several statements of
concern.

Neighbors No Help, U.S. to Blame
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3. (C) In a reference to his ongoing dispute with Guayaquil
leaders about security there, Damerval complained that his
police and prison resources are stretched thin because of the
need to bolster security along northern border provinces.
Finance minister Yepez is no help, he said, strictly holding
the line on budget increases. He hoped for help from the
Spanish government on prisons. Colombia, never a good
neighbor to Ecuador, had showed no willingness to acknowledge
responsibility for some of Ecuador's security-related
expenses.


4. (C) The narcotics trafficking which undermines Ecuadorian
security, he said, stems from the personal weakness of U.S.
drug users. Continuing on Guayaquil, his native city, the
minister said it had been difficult to craft the referendum
to be proposed by the President by January 21, and that one
key element would be increased autonomy for the city, and
possibly other areas.


5. (C) Damerval then laid into Ecuador's southern neighbor,
citing the US for guaranteeing a peace which cheated Ecuador
on its eastern frontier. The US should encourage Peru to
reopen the 1996 peace treaty, and move the riverine border
east.

Congress Not Worth It?
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6. (C) Discussing TIP, Damerval acknowledged the difficulty
of dealing with Congress, but cited his personal friendship
with the newly-elected Congress President as a potential
asset. Acknowledging his reputation as a political
provocateur, he slyly noted USG support for President
Fujimori even after he dissolved the Peruvian Congress. The
Ambassador noted that USG support is for Ecuador's democratic
institutions, including Congress, and that the USG is seeking
ways to strengthen them.

Comment
--------------


7. (C) Damerval, appointed in November to lead the Gutierrez
government's defense against impeachment, appeared
uncomfortable but eager to please, highlighting his language
ability, support for a free trade agreement, and his personal
affinity for the U.S., and agreeing wholeheartedly with the
Ambassador's request that he show greater leadership on TIP.
His comments revealed a darker side, however, and a tendency
common to intellectuals of his generation to implicitly blame
the U.S. for Ecuador's problems, hold irrational fears of
Peru, and seek US intervention to solve Ecuador's problems.
Given these views, we believe it is fortunate for Ecuador
that Damerval is clearly not trusted by Gutierrez to chart
GOE policy, and hope rumors of his impending dismissal prove
correct.


KENNEY