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