ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE: IRAN NATIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 002691 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: TEN YEARS TAGS: KNNP MNUC IAEA IR PARM AORC PREL EC SUBJECT: ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE: IRAN NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATE REF: A. SECSTATE 165967 ¶B. SECSTATE 162558 ¶C. QUITO 2532 Classified By: Ambassador Linda Jewell for Reasons 1.4 (b&d). ¶1. (SBU) Poloff delivered relevant key judgment and non-paper points on Iran National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) from Reftel B to MFA's Multilateral Affairs Directorate on December 12, 2007. We received a response on December 26, 2007, from Lourdes Puma, MFA Director General of Multilateral Affairs, who had been previously unavailable due to travel. ¶2. (C) Poloff delivered Reftel A points and clarified the USG position on the NIE and on Iran. Puma responded by reiterating a statement from a previous demarche (Reftel C) that Ecuador is a strong proponent of disarmament and non-proliferation, as well as of the IAEA. Puma cautioned that the NIE had received a mixed response internationally, that it caused some countries to remember the intelligence report on weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, and that some were reluctant to "repeat mistakes" by making decisions based on intelligence reports. She opined that Iran had made efforts to comply with the IAEA, citing the NIE that Iran had stopped their weapons program. Poloff noted that Iran continues uranium enrichment and reprocessing, is building ballistic missiles, and is constructing a Heavy Water Research Reactor, and that these were key steps in the development of a potential future weapons program. ¶3. (C) Poloff further noted that international pressure, including the UNSC sanctions 1737 and 1747, had helped produced some results, but that full cooperation with the IAEA is still necessary, that these resolutions demanded Iran to suspend enrichment (not its weapons program) and that if Iran refuses to comply, a third UNSC sanction would likely be supported by the USG. Puma countered that Ecuador believes that additional sanctions would not be productive, that the IAEA should be given additional time to work with Iran through negotiation, and emphasized that Ecuador strongly believes that Iran should comply with the obligations of the treaties they have signed as all countries should comply with international instruments of chemical, biological and nuclear non-proliferation. ¶4. (C) Poloff inquired into the interest by the press in the current administration's policy of developing commercial ties with Iran. Puma stressed that Ecuador is not aligned politically with Iran. She cited as an analogous example that Ecuador is also developing commercial ties with China, that this also does not mean that Ecuador is aligned politically with China, and that ironically political motives are never questioned when countries establish commercial ties with China. She noted that other countries such as Colombia are not questioned who also have commercial ties with Iran. ¶5. (C) Comment. As during previous demarches on Iran, Puma was cordial and forthcoming during the meeting, always communicating Ecuador's commitment to the IAEA, to Iran's compliance and support of previous UNSC resolutions 1737 and ¶1747. We will continue to press the Iran issue with Puma and more senior Foreign Ministry officials. End Comment. JEWELL