PRESIDENT AND FM TO TRAVEL TO ROME

UNCLAS QUITO 000750

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EC
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT AND FM TO TRAVEL TO ROME

REF: A. QUITO 721


B. QUITO 720


1. President Gutierrez plans to travel to Rome with First
Lady Ximena Bohorquez and Foreign Minister Patricio
Zuquilanda on April 6 to attend funeral services for Pope
John Paul II. Gutierrez will return to Ecuador on April 10.
Zuquilanda will travel to Washington (for OAS SYG election)
from Rome on April 10 and return to Ecuador on April 14.


2. On April 2, from his hometown of Tena, Gutierrez
expressed condolences on the part of his government and the
Ecuadorian people at the death of the Pope. The GoE declared
three days of mourning with flags flown at half-mast.
Gutierrez attended a special mass for the Pope on April 3 at
Quito's Cathedral, next to the Presidential palace. Upon
attempting to leave the mass, Gutierrez was met by hecklers
upset at the return to Ecuador of controversial ex-President
Abdala Bucaram and chose not to leave through the main door.


3. We recommend the Department coordinate with the
Ecuadorian Embassy in Washington to arrange meetings with
visiting FM Zuquilanda to discuss the Cuba resolution, OAS
SYG election, our democracy concerns here, and trade issues
per reftels.
KENNEY