ECUADOR: FM SUPPORTS UNSC REFORM

UNCLAS QUITO 000128 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EC SUBJECT: ECUADOR: FM SUPPORTS UNSC REFORM REF: STATE 4746 ¶1. (SBU) The Ambassador discussed reftel points with FM Francisco Carrion in a one-on-one meeting on January 13, requesting GOE support for management reforms and emphasizing the need for a more credible Human Rights Council. ¶2. (SBU) FM Carrion said that the UN has great importance to Ecuador, a small and poor country deeply committed to the UN system. He agreed that a well-managed, transparent, accountable and efficient UN would especially benefit Ecuador and other developing countries. The UNSC offers a unique opportunity for countries like Ecuador to participate, he said. UNSC expansion should not preclude that rotating opportunity for small countries to play a role. ¶3. (SBU) Carrion was generally supportive of USG priorities to eliminate obsolete or ineffectual programs and give the UN SecGen the authority to re-deploy resources from lower to higher priority programs. ¶4. (SBU) Carrion was enthusiastic about the creation of the new Human Rights Council, and agreed that the UNHRC had become "a joke." The GOE would be willing to discuss criteria to prevent human rights violators from joining the new Council. He did not comment substantively on the continued need for country specific initiatives in the Council. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: We will continue to discuss these UN issues with other MFA officials but are encouraged by Carrion's initial reaction to our reform proposals. JEWELL