GOE DEFENDS NAM IRAN DECLARATION, BUT PLEDGES

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 001401 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2014 TAGS: KDEM KPAO PREL PGOV IZ EC SUBJECT: GOE DEFENDS NAM IRAN DECLARATION, BUT PLEDGES SUPPORT REF: STATE 89325 Classified By: PolIntern Ned Kelly for reasons 1.4 (b&d) ¶1. (C) PolChief and PolIntern delivered RefTel demarche on June 7 to Ambassador Fernando Yepez, Acting U/S for Multilateral Affairs, expressing USG dismay over the recent declaration on Iran issued by the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Ambassador Yepez noted that the GOE Ambassador in Vienna had already responded by note to our demarche, and shared the GOE points with us. ¶2. (C) Yepez said the NAM Conference, which included Iran, was a political venue and it was unreasonable to expect a harsh public rebuke in this forum to one of its members. Ecuador's position in support of the NAM declaration was based on the principle that all nations have a right to pursue peaceful nuclear programs. He emphasized that the NAM declaration did in fact add balance by including a call upon Iran to fully comply with the IAEA. Yepez said he felt the tone of our demarche points was unsuited to the friendly relations between our two countries. We noted that the same points were conveyed to all NAM members who supported the declaration. ¶3. (C) Yepez warmed up somewhat when discussing the USG initiative to seek diplomatic resolution of the Iran nuclear issue. Yepez agreed that Iran faced a crossroads on its nuclear program, and he praised USG efforts to encourage Iran to choose the more responsible path. The GOE intended to do the same in its capacity as a member of the IAEA Board of Governors, by urging the Iranian government to cooperate fully with the IAEA. JEWELL