COLOMBIA HANDLES ECUADOR WITH KID GLOVES

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 008663 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL SMIG SNAR PHUM PREF EC VE CO SUBJECT: COLOMBIA HANDLES ECUADOR WITH KID GLOVES Classified By: Political Counselor, John S. Cream... id: 79146 date: 9/20/2006 17:32 refid: 06BOGOTA8663 origin: Embassy Bogota classification: CONFIDENTIAL destination: header: VZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHBO #8663/01 2631732 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 201732Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9011 INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 8217 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ SEP 8254 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 4271 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 4947 RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL PRIORITY 3690 -------------- header ends -------------- C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 008663 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL SMIG SNAR PHUM PREF EC VE CO SUBJECT: COLOMBIA HANDLES ECUADOR WITH KID GLOVES Classified By: Political Counselor, John S. Creamer Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Vice Foreign Minister Camilo Reyes told us September 15 President Uribe has instructed the MFA to handle Ecuador with "kid gloves" leading up to Ecuador's presidential election on October 15. Security, emigration, GOC spraying of illegal coca on the border, and a surge in Colombian exports stemming from dollarization of the Ecuadorian economy are key bilateral issues. Reyes said bilateral ties would remain manageable if either Leon Roldos or Cynthia Viteria win the presidential election. In contrast, "all bets are off" if pro-Venezuelan and populist Rafael Correa is elected. End Summary. -------------- -------------- COLOMBIA HANDLES "INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP" WITH KID GLOVES -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) Reyes described Ecuador and Colombia as having an "intimate relationship", with Colombians strongly represented among Ecuador's business, political and professional elites. Still, Ecuador's internal political instability complicates bilateral relations, with Ecuadorian politicians routinely using Colombian issues to attack the GOE. Reyes said the GOC tries to manage relations through patience and dialogue. President Uribe cares deeply about Ecuador, and has instructed the MFA to handle relations with "kid gloves," especially before Ecuador's presidential elections on October 
¶15. If presidential candidates Leon Roldos or Cynthia Viteri win the election, Reyes predicted bilateral ties would remain manageable. However, if pro-Venezuela and populist candidate Rafael Correa wins, "all bets are off." -------------- - SECURITY TAKES THE LEAD ON BILATERAL RELATIONS -------------- - ¶3. (C) Reyes said there are four key issues influencing bilateral relations: security (the FARC's use of Ecuadorian soil for arms/narcotrafficking, safe haven, and logistics); emigration (Ecuador estimates 500,000 Colombians live in the country, while Colombia puts the figure at 150,000); coca spraying on the Colombian/Ecuadorian border; and dollarization (the overvalued Ecuadorian currency spurs imports, both legal and illegal, from Colombia, wiping out entire sectors of Ecuadorian industry.) Venezuela's "growing presence" in Ecuador is an additional complication. Reyes said the focal issue is security, with Ecuadorians routinely blaming Colombia's inability to control its borders for all of their problems. -------------- GOC CLAIMS GOOD RELATIONS -------------- ¶4. (C) Despite the complex relationship, Reyes said government-to-government relations are good. The GOC was able to obtain FARC official Simon Trinidad from Ecuador, and has also managed to limit the political fallout from the occasional military incident along the border. Communications with current FM Carrion are much better than they were with his predecessors. Military-to-military links are also good, but corruption within the Ecuadorian military is a serious problem. (Comment: DAO reports Colombian cooperation with the Ecuadorian police is better than with the Ecuadorian military, although military cooperation has improved in Putumayo over the last month. End Comment) Colombia regularly finds Ecuadorian-marked arms and ammunition in FARC camps. Reyes said Ecuadorian Minister of Defense Jarrin's recent resignation was indirectly triggered by a corruption scandal involving the military. President Palacios fired Ecuador's three service commanders for their alleged involvement in a failed, illegal bank without first consulting with Jarrin. Reyes claimed Jarrin had been looking for a way out ever since. -------------- GOC LOOKS TO U.S. FOR ECUADORIAN INTEL -------------- ¶5. (C) In a separate meeting, Administrative Department for Security (DAS) Director Andres Penate told us the DAS has poor institutional ties with its Ecuadorian counterparts. Colombian intelligence regarding Ecuador comes from either U.S. channels or personal ties with individuals. He contrasted this poor relationship with the good cooperation that the DAS receives from its institutional counterparts in Panama, Aruba, and Brazil. DRUCKER =======================CABLE ENDS============================