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
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RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 4271
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-------------- 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)

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SUMMARY
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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.

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COLOMBIA HANDLES "INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP" WITH KID GLOVES
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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."

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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.

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GOC CLAIMS GOOD RELATIONS
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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.

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GOC LOOKS TO U.S. FOR ECUADORIAN INTEL
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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

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