MOD UPBEAT ON EVE OF COLOMBIA TALKS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 QUITO 000085

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2014
TAGS: MOPS PREL MARR SNAR PTER EC CO
SUBJECT: MOD UPBEAT ON EVE OF COLOMBIA TALKS

REF: QUITO 02822

Classified By: PolOff Jarahn Hillsman, Reasons 1.4 (b&d)


1. (C) Summary: In a January 10 meeting the Ambassador
conveyed to Defense Minister Oswaldo Jarrin USG support for
greater high-level GOE-GOC security cooperation, and
expressed USG concern over the GOE,S anti-glyphosate
rhetoric. Jarrin said the fumigation issue was not on his
agenda for upcoming January talks with his Colombian
counterpart, which would instead focus on developing a
broader, more integrated border security policy. He was
upbeat about the prospects for increased mil-mil
communication along the frontier region. End Summary.

MOD Encouraged by Dialogue
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2. (C) The Ambassador and DCM on January 10 met with
Minister of Defense Oswaldo Jarrin to discuss his upcoming
bilateral security meeting with Colombian Minister of Defense
Camilo Ospina Bernal. Jarrin told the Ambassador that the
January 13 meeting in Bogota would be the first of its kind,
aimed at defining a strategic bi-national security framework.
Previous Ministerial meetings were solely operational in
nature. The meeting builds on the December 7 meeting between
Foreign Ministers Carrion and Barco and seeks to further
develop the security cooperation outlined in that meeting's
joint statement. He is confident that this renewed dialogue
will produce common security strategies to guide bilateral
engagement at the operational level, and is intended to
improve communication on security issues, which he
characterized as &event-driven and often negative8 to date.
The Ambassador encouraged Jarrin to seek common ground with
his Colombian counterpart and praised GOE-GOC determination
to enhance the security dialogue.

Ambassador Pushes on Glyphosate
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3. (C) The Ambassador expressed USG concern over the GOE,s
assertion that glyphosate is unsafe and its calls for
suspension of aerial spraying within 10 kilometers of the
Ecuadorian border. The OAS study had laid the issue to rest,
she told Jarrin. Jarrin replied that he would not raise the
fumigation issue in his meeting with Ospina, adding that the
MFA retains responsibility over fumigations. Rather than
focus on the idea of a 10k no-spray zone along the border,
Jarrin said he would like to see energies directed toward
creating a 10k border special development zone with
international support, building on the successful current
model of USAID programs along Ecuador's Northern Border.
Jarrin said that the meeting will primarily focus on security
cooperation under the terms of the December 7 joint
declaration signed by the foreign ministers in Quito. He
said that he had consulted with FM Carrion in shaping his
points, but had drafted the strategic security framework
himself.

Jarrin,s Outlines Security Framework
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4. (C) Jarrin said he plans to raise the following four GOE
proposals in his meeting with Ospina:

--Restructure the Bi-national Security Commission: Jarrin
considers the Bi-national Security Commission key to
strengthening conflict resolution and prevention at the
operational level. He plans to recommend that in addition to
bi-annual meetings, that meetings be automatically triggered
by any significant border incident or incursion. The
commission would review the incident and offer non-binding
recommendations to the two governments. At the moment,
Jarrin noted, the governments have no operational mechanism
for dealing with border incidents, so they inappropriately
move directly to senior-level attention, almost guaranteeing
increased political tensions.

--No Incursion Policy: Jarrin will seek greater clarity with
respect to operations and rules of engagement along the
border. He will emphasize the need for Colombian security
forces to respect Ecuador,s sovereignty and avoid violations
of territorial integrity, including steps to prevent "hot
pursuit" incursions. In return, the GOE will adopt a zero
tolerance policy for Colombian (or any other) illegal armed
groups in Ecuadorian territory.
--Fortify Migration Controls: Jarrin will commend the GOC
for steps taken to strengthen migration controls, and stress
the need for more official border crossing points.
Accompanying that step would be greater commitment to
curtailing illegal crossings at non-authorized points.

--Replicate 28th Brigade Model: Jarrin considers Colombia,s
28th brigade, which operates along the Colombian-Venezuelan
border, an effective model for enhanced border security and
will encourage the GOC to adopt the same model for their
southern border with Ecuador.

Comment
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5. (C) Jarrin was upbeat about the upcoming meeting and
eager to engage with his Colombian counterpart on the
security side. We are encouraged to hear he will avoid the
problematic issue of fumigations. We are hopeful that the
meeting will increase mil-mil communication and cooperation,
supporting Plan Colombia objectives.
JEWELL