NEW COLOMBIAN FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS ECUADOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 001258

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2014
TAGS: PREL MARR MASS MOPS SNAR PTER EC CO
SUBJECT: NEW COLOMBIAN FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS ECUADOR

REF: QUITO 01180

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


1. (U) Summary: Colombian Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo
made his first official visit to Ecuador on May 28. During
the visit, Araujo stressed the need for continued
anti-narcotics cooperation; communicated GOC willingness to
compensate border residents for damage caused by aerial
fumigations (if proven scientifically); and expressed
Colombia's interest in supporting Plan Ecuador initiatives.
Espinosa welcomed the GOC position on fumigations, noting it
as helpful in moving forward on more pressing bilateral
issues. Press coverage of the visit was positive, and the
GOC position on glyphosate appears to have put bilateral
relations back on track for now. The tripartite committee on
glyphosate will meet on July 8. End Summary.

Araujo Strikes a Conciliatory Tone on Glyphosate


2. (U) In his first official visit to Ecuador since
replacing Maria Araujo as Colombia's foreign minister,
Fernando Araujo on May 28 met with Ecuadorian Foreign
Minister Maria Espinosa. In a joint press conference
following the reportedly cordial session, Araujo stressed the
need for continued cross-border cooperation to effectively
combat narcotics trafficking and terrorism. Turning to
glyphosate, Araujo said that aerial fumigations within 10
kilometers of the Ecuadorian border had been suspended, and
that the GOC would redouble manual eradication efforts. He
defended Colombia's use of glyphosate, but said that the GOC
would be open to compensate border residents if the
tripartite committee found scientific evidence to support
their claim. Araujo refused to comment on the recent visit by
UN Rapporteur for Human Health Rights Paul Hunt, calling it
an "Ecuadorian internal matter." (Reftel)

Espinosa Positive on Meeting; Looks Forward


3. (U) Espinosa in a May 29 television interview called the
meeting with Araujo "frank, open, and useful" in moving
forward on issues of interest to Ecuador. She welcomed the
GOC's position on fumigations, and said that Araujo assured
her that Colombia would submit its findings on the impact of
aerial spraying at the July 8 tripartite committee meeting.
Espinosa expressed GOE openness to collaborating with
Colombia on unspecified Plan Ecuador initiatives, and
discussed proposals to deepen cross-border refugee
cooperation and Colombian prisoner transfers.


4. (C) Minister Coordinator for Internal and External
Security Fernando Bustamante in a May 29 meeting with USAID
Director and PolOff expressed GOE satisfaction with the
Araujo visit. Bustamante welcomed Colombia's offer to
cooperate on Plan Ecuador initiatives, which his office
coordinates, and stressed the need for the GOC to invest in
development projects on the Colombian side of the border.

Comment


5. (C) Colombia's unexpected announcement that it would
compensate border residents if the tripartite committee found
scientific evidence of environmental and health damage helps
ease the pressure on bilateral relations from this issue, at
least for now. Araujo's first visit to Ecuador, in general,
appears to have been very positive here, with good chemistry
between the two FMs and positive press highlighting goodwill
on both sides.
JEWELL