ECUADOR'S RESPONSE TO FARC LETTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 002398 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2017 TAGS: PTER PREL SNAR EC CO SUBJECT: ECUADOR'S RESPONSE TO FARC LETTER Classified By: AMBASSADOR LINDA JEWELL FOR REASON 1.4 (D) ¶1. (SBU) On October 18, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) Secretariat member Raul Reyes sent a public letter to President Correa expressing the FARC's desire to establish peaceful political and diplomatic relations with the GOE and avoid any confrontation with the Ecuadorian military. The letter, addressed to the President and the Ecuadorian people, congratulates Correa on the victory in the Constituent Assembly elections and refers to Ecuador's opportunity to build a new country based in socialism. ¶2. (SBU) On October 19, the GOE responded with an official press release, posted on the MFA's website. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs that the FARC statements, divulged via various media...do not represent any commitment by the National Government. Ecuador maintains diplomatic relations with the Colombian state and its legitimately constituted Government." Vice President Moreno, acting President at the time since Correa was traveling in Europe, reiterated the same message in response to questions from local press. ¶3. (C) Comment. While the GOE's longstanding policy of non-intervention in Colombia's internal conflict has made this and previous GOE governments unwilling to declare the FARC a terrorist organization, this response was a welcome reaffirmation of what has been President Correa's clear efforts to maintain distance from the FARC, both publicly and privately. End Comment. JEWELL