Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06QUITO1386
2006-06-06 22:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Quito
Cable title:
GOE INCLINED TO SUPPORT UN INDIGENOUS DECLARATION
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHQT #1386 1572209 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 062209Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY QUITO TO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 0336 RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4521 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0074 INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA PRIORITY 5664 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 1770 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ JUN 9854 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 0635 RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL PRIORITY 0591
UNCLAS QUITO 001386
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL EC
SUBJECT: GOE INCLINED TO SUPPORT UN INDIGENOUS DECLARATION
REF: A. SECSTATE 78740
B. SECSTATE 78829
UNCLAS QUITO 001386
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL EC
SUBJECT: GOE INCLINED TO SUPPORT UN INDIGENOUS DECLARATION
REF: A. SECSTATE 78740
B. SECSTATE 78829
1. (SBU) PolOff presented reftel points to Augusto Saa,
Director of Human Rights and Social and Environmental issues
at the MFA, on May 22, emphasizing the USG view that the
Chair's draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
is fundamentally flawed. Saa said the GOE is inclined to
support the draft Declaration, but said he would share USG
concerns regarding the declaration with Ecuador's mission to
the UN. He agreed that more discussion of the declaration
would be necessary before a final vote and said Ecuador would
not push for passage of the Chair's text without greater
consensus.
2. (SBU) Regarding the implementation of land rights as
described in the declaration, Saa believed Ecuador was
already in compliance. Ecuador's 1998 Constitution already
"mostly" complies with ILO convention 169 on Indigenous and
Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries, to which Ecuador is
a signatory including provisions on rights to subsoil
resources, according to Saa. The Constitution states that
indigenous peoples are the legitimate owners of renewable
resources on their territory and must be consulted regarding
any development of non-renewable resources on their land,
with these consultations allowing for community benefits from
the resources. Saa said that the GOE would have difficulty
returning ownership of previously occupied indigenous land,
but that currently the GOE was taking steps to provide
communal land titling to indigenous. Saa said that the GOE
was most concerned with issues of self-determination and
specifically did not wish indigenous laws to be superior to
national laws. Saa acknowledged that there could be serious
legal implications for the implementation of the declaration
in other countries.
JEWELL
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL EC
SUBJECT: GOE INCLINED TO SUPPORT UN INDIGENOUS DECLARATION
REF: A. SECSTATE 78740
B. SECSTATE 78829
1. (SBU) PolOff presented reftel points to Augusto Saa,
Director of Human Rights and Social and Environmental issues
at the MFA, on May 22, emphasizing the USG view that the
Chair's draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
is fundamentally flawed. Saa said the GOE is inclined to
support the draft Declaration, but said he would share USG
concerns regarding the declaration with Ecuador's mission to
the UN. He agreed that more discussion of the declaration
would be necessary before a final vote and said Ecuador would
not push for passage of the Chair's text without greater
consensus.
2. (SBU) Regarding the implementation of land rights as
described in the declaration, Saa believed Ecuador was
already in compliance. Ecuador's 1998 Constitution already
"mostly" complies with ILO convention 169 on Indigenous and
Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries, to which Ecuador is
a signatory including provisions on rights to subsoil
resources, according to Saa. The Constitution states that
indigenous peoples are the legitimate owners of renewable
resources on their territory and must be consulted regarding
any development of non-renewable resources on their land,
with these consultations allowing for community benefits from
the resources. Saa said that the GOE would have difficulty
returning ownership of previously occupied indigenous land,
but that currently the GOE was taking steps to provide
communal land titling to indigenous. Saa said that the GOE
was most concerned with issues of self-determination and
specifically did not wish indigenous laws to be superior to
national laws. Saa acknowledged that there could be serious
legal implications for the implementation of the declaration
in other countries.
JEWELL