ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE: U.N. COMMITTEE AGAINST

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 002219 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2016 TAGS: PHUM PREL UNHRC EC SUBJECT: ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE: U.N. COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE REF: STATE 130973 Classified By: DCM Jefferson Brown for reasons 1.4 (B&D) ¶1. (SBU) PolOff met with Lourdes Puma, MFA Director General of Multilateral Affairs, on September 25, and shared reftel points emphasizing USG candidate Felice Gaer's performance as an incumbent of the Committee. As expected, Puma expressed interest in the USG's support of Ecuador's candidate, Ambassador Luis Gallegos. Puma asserted that Ecuador has traded votes with other countries, and that Ecuador's fifth and only remaining vote had still not been defined. PolOff explained that as a matter of policy the USG does not trade votes or reveal its vote before or after an election, but stressed the USG's familiarity with Gallegos, and that as the current Ambassador to the U.S., he would certainly be viewed positively. ¶2. (C) Comment. Post's assessment is that a call to Ambassador Gallegos requesting his support for USG candidate Felice Gaer could be effective in securing Ecuador's vote only if the caller recognizes Gallegos' own candidacy and affirms that his record of strong cooperation with the USG will be taken into consideration in our decision. End Comment. JEWELL