Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05QUITO932
2005-04-26 20:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Quito
Cable title:  

ECUADOR: FM PARRA OPENS BILATERAL DIALOGUE

Tags:  PGOV PREL SNAR PINR EC 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 QUITO 000932 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL SNAR PINR EC
SUBJECT: ECUADOR: FM PARRA OPENS BILATERAL DIALOGUE


Classified By: Amb. Kristie A. Kenney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 QUITO 000932

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL SNAR PINR EC
SUBJECT: ECUADOR: FM PARRA OPENS BILATERAL DIALOGUE


Classified By: Amb. Kristie A. Kenney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: In a cordial one-on-one encounter on April
26, FM Antonio Parra Gil told the Ambassador that, by natural
inclination and necessity, Ecuador seeks good relations with
the United States. He offered open and honest dialogue with
the USG, and pledged to address specific issues in subsequent
meetings. He expressed special interest in counter-narcotics
cooperation and concern about money-laundering in Ecuador. A
mature and moderate interlocutor, Parra will travel to
Santiago for the Community of Democracies meeting; we
recommend a meeting on the margins with A/S Noreiga. He is
reviewing all MFA political appointments and carefully
considering who to send as Ambassador to the U.S. End
Summary.

Affinity for U.S.; Recognition
--------------


2. (C) Like his boss, Parra emphasized his personal affinity
for the U.S. and recognized the importance of the U.S. to
Ecuador in terms of its geo-political influence, and status
as Ecuador's main market and foreign assistance donor. He
said he valued the Ambassador's frankness and invited her to
join in an open and honest private dialogue.


3. (C) As a practicing lawyer, Parra ran through the
arguments in favor of the legitimacy and constitutionality of
the new government. The Ambassador told Parra that the USG
is now focused on helping Ecuador move forward rather than
look backward. The OAS mission is coming to Ecuador in that
spirit, and offers the GOE an opportunity to receive the
support of its hemispheric friends. Parra agreed, saying the
GOE welcomed the visit.

Immediate Plans: Travel, Appointments, Calls, Dialogue
-------------- --------------


4. (C) Parra said he intended to attend the Community of
Democracies meeting in Santiago, which offered a great
opportunity to meet counterparts and make Ecuador's case. He
was considering whether to recommend that President Palacio
attend an upcoming Latin America-Arab summit. Traveling now
is particularly difficult, when so many personnel
appointments need to made. The Ambassador asked that Parra

give special attention to the appointment of an Ambassador to
the United States. Parra said he would do so, but did not
mention any possible candidates.


5. (C) Parra said he had asked his staff to prepare a list
of bilateral issues with the U.S., which he would like to
discuss with the Ambassador at a later date. The Ambassador
welcomed the opportunity to convert problem issues into
opportunities.

Interest in Counter-Narcotics Issues
--------------


6. (C) The Ambassador told Parra she had suggested President
Palacio call his counterparts in Colombia and Peru sooner
rather than later. Parra said he had recommended the same
thing, and expected Palacio to do so soon. He expressed
concern about the "contagion effect" of the Colombian
conflict, and wondered if subsidies for alternate crops would
help wean the border region away from coca growing. The
Ambassador cited USG-supported efforts to promote cacao as an
alternative. Parra also expressed concern about
money-laundering in Ecuador. The Ambassador agreed,
regretting the lack of an effective legal regime to combat
this crime, and commending legislation pending in Congress.
Parra said he wanted to make the issue an early priority.

FTA: "No Choice"
--------------


7. (C) Turning to trade, Parra said Ecuador simply had no
choice but to negotiate an FTA with the U.S., with ATPDEA
expiring in 2006. People worry about being flooded by U.S.
products, but in an increasingly globalized world, no country
can afford to sit on the fence. Given Ecuador's dependence
on the U.S. market, there were few practical alternatives.
Expanding trade with Europe was not a viable option.

Bucaram Effect
--------------


8. (C) The Ambassador said it was unfortunate that Ecuador
had fallen into a recurrent cycle of interrupted
presidencies. Parra blamed "El Loco" ex-president Abdala
Bucaram, who initiated the cycle in 1997. Bucaram was a
difficult case for the current government as well, which was
in discussion with the Panamanian government over the terms
of his asylum there. In his previous exile in Panama he had
flagrantly violated the terms of his refuge by continuing to
run his political party from abroad. It was in Ecuador's
interest for these divisive leaders to live abroad, he said.
Parra fully expected ex-president Gutierrez to respect the
terms of his asylum in Brazil; Bucaram in Panama would be
another story.

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


9. (C) This charm offensive came naturally to Parra, an
engaging interlocutor who inspires confidence. He is
certainly a welcome replacement for his insubstantial
predecessor. We have heard similar praise from the
Brazilians, who worked with Parra on safe passage for
ex-president Gutierrez. Though not yet prepared to address
the full range of bilateral issues, Parra clearly signaled a
more open and pragmatic approach which could help moderate
more extreme cabinet views. President Palacio stuck a
similar tone in an April 24 press conference, when he again
expressed firm commitment to respect exiting international
agreements and defended the agreement on the Manta
cooperative security location as worthy for its contribution
to the eradication of drugs (SepTel). We should take
advantage of the GOE's acute interest in dialogue to promote
USG interests.

Biographic Notes
--------------


10. (SBU) Parra is 68, overweight (he joked about the
dietary restrictions his wife has recently enforced),suffers
from poor hearing (and wears a hearing aid),and said he was
having difficulty adjusting to Quito's high altitude. He is
also jovial, frank and delightfully gregarious, in the manner
of many Guayaquilenos. Parra urged the Ambassador to address
him by his nickname, "Japo," which he acquired as a child for
his oriental appearance (which has faded away with age). He
admitted to poor English language ability, but seemed proud
of his international and legal training and experience. One
daughter lives in Chicago, a city he loves to visit. Another
daughter lives in Guayaquil with his four grandchildren.

KENNEY