BI-NATIONAL BORDER DEVELOPMENT PLAN ADVANCES

UNCLAS QUITO 000988

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR SNAR PTER EC CO
SUBJECT: BI-NATIONAL BORDER DEVELOPMENT PLAN ADVANCES

REF: QUITO 00977


1. (SBU) Summary: Ecuadorian and Colombian government
officials will meet in Quito on April 24-25 to discuss the
creation of an integrated development zone along their common
border. The idea of the plan, agreed to at December 7, 2005
bilateral ministerial meetings in Quito, seeks to identify
and develop joint programs and projects to increase public
services in the area of health, education, water, and
transportation, while encouraging licit economic growth and
better environmental management. We are hopeful the plan
could help broaden and smooth relations between the two
neighbors. End Summary.

December 7 Ministerial Produces Results
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2. (U) Ecuador and Colombia on April 24-25 will hold
vice-ministerial talks in Quito to finalize plans for an
integrated development zone (IDZ) along their common border.
The plan, first discussed in 2002, had been indefinitely
delayed by contentious bilateral relations over alleged
airspace violations by the GOC and the GOE demand that aerial
spraying of coca crops be suspended within 10 km of the
shared border. A December 7, 2005, joint declaration by FMs
Carrion and Barco reinitiated bilateral dialogue mechanisms.

IDZ Closer to Reality
--------------


3. (U) Ecuadorian and Colombian government representatives
met on January 26 in Tulcan, Carchi province, to discuss the
previously stalled IDZ and to outline parameters for their
engagement. The bi-national committee agreed that the IDZ
should promote greater social and economic development along
the troubled border region. Under the proposed social
program, the IDZ would promote investment in health,
education, water, and transportation. On the economic front,
representatives agreed that the IDZ should promote licit
economic activity and growth in the region.


4. (U) The proposed IDZ spans the entire 400-mile border
zone, and aims to improve the lives of over 2 million
Ecuadorians and Colombians living in the area. The proposal
is divided into three distinct regions-)Pacific, Andean, and
Amazon, and includes 21 Ecuadorian and 31 Colombian
municipalities. The proposed IDZ also aims to enhance
environmental and resource management efforts in the region,
with provisions for the creation of cross-border disaster
planning mechanisms.

MFA Optimistic About Plan
--------------


5. (SBU) MFA Director General for Border Development Amb.
Claudio Cevallos told PolOff that the GOE was optimistic
about the plan, believing it to be a positive step towards
addressing dire border conditions. Project proposals were
selected with considerable input from local residents and
public officials, he said, adding that grass-root acceptance
and engagement is crucial for the IDZ,s success. The IDZ,
according to Cevallos, would also promote greater
communication and coordination between relevant local,
provincial, and federal government entities, and would be
coordinated through the GOE,s Northern Border Development
Unit (UDENOR). He said concerns about UDENOR,s ability to
effectively administer the program would hopefully be
resolved soon.

International Donors Key
--------------


6. (SBU) Cevallos said that Ecuador following the April
24-25 meeting would seek international donor support for the
proposed IDZ. He acknowledge extensive USAID support for
development projects in the northern border region, but added
that he hoped the U.S. would provide additional technical and
financial assistance for the IDZ.


7. (SBU) UNDP Officer Michael Brown said that the UN had
provided the MFA technical assistance in preparation for
their bi-national development meetings with Colombia, and
that he continues to serve as an advisor. Brown remains
encouraged by progress made, suggesting that the GOE might be
more prepared for the April 24-25 meeting than their
Colombian counterparts. He again assured us that the
preliminary UN glyphosate report scheduled to be released to
the GOE the week of April 24 would urge bi-national
coordination on health and development issues in the border
region.

Comment
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8. (SBU) We are encouraged by the progress made on the IDZ,
and continue to push for greater cooperation and
collaboration between the Ecuadorian and Colombian
governments on cross-border development and security issues.
We are hopeful that that the preliminary UN glyphosate
report, scheduled to be released the week of April 24, will
promote broader discussions on greater investment in these
areas, rather than the narrow, politicized specific focus on
glyphosate. VFM Ribadeneira recently confided to visiting
WHA/AND Director French that renewed aerial spraying by the
GOC would "drop a bomb" on the bilateral development agenda
(RefTel). We will encourage the GOE to focus instead on the
potential of a well-planned and executed integrated
development zone.
JEWELL