AMB TOBIAS DELIVERS MESSAGE OF COOPERATION AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000494 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR F DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO USAID/AA/LAC E.O. 12958: DECL: TEN YEARS TAGS: PGOV PREL SNAR EC SUBJECT: AMB TOBIAS DELIVERS MESSAGE OF COOPERATION AND ENGAGEMENT Classified By: POLOFF Jarahn Hillsman for reasons 1.4 (b&d). ¶1. (C) Summary: During a February 26-27 visit to Quito, U.S. Director for Foreign Assistance and USAID Administrator Ambassador Randall L. Tobias conveyed a message of continued USG support to Ecuador, despite U.S. budget constraints. In meetings with Foreign Minister Maria Espinosa, Police Chief Bolivar Cisneros, and civil society and private sector leaders, Ambassador Tobias explained the USG's vision for development assistance in the region, reassuring GOE officials of continued U.S. interest in Ecuador and Latin America generally. Espinosa stressed the importance of U.S. engagement in Ecuador, and urged ATPA extension. Cisneros thanked Ambassador Tobias for U.S. assistance that had been effective in helping Ecuador address the counter-narcotics threat, while describing a worsening situation. Civil society leaders and private sector representatives also expressed appreciation for USG support through USAID democracy and economic development programs, but emphasized that more help was needed. End Summary. Foreign Minister Meeting Positive -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador Tobias, accompanied by Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Charles Shapiro (PDAS),Ambassador Jewell, Ambassador Tobias,s Chief of Staff, and Embassy notetaker met with Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Maria Fernanda Espinosa in her office on February ¶26. She was joined by Undersecretary for Bilateral Affairs Ambassador Susana Alvear. Espinosa expressed President Correa's apologies for a last-minute scheduling conflict that precluded his being able to meet with Ambassador Tobias, and said that she would brief him on the meeting later. ¶3. (C) Ambassador Tobias opened the meeting by expressing his regret that weather delays forced cancellation of his trip to the northern border region to visit USG development and security projects. Ambassador Jewell explained that Ambassador Tobias would instead be briefed in subsequent meetings on USG assistance programs in the region. Espinosa acknowledged the importance of USG support, but lamented the lack of GOE coordination to manage common challenges to development in the region. She worried that efforts of the numerous NGOs, human rights organizations, and other initiatives under the stalled Ecuador-Colombia bi-national development plan were likely being duplicated. Espinosa said the GOE is developing a "Plan Ecuador for Peace and Sustainable Development" to improve coordination. ¶4. (C) Espinosa conveyed GOE commitment to protect northern border residents from illegal activity, while also working to prevent coca cultivation on the Ecuadorian side of the border, and characterized U.S.-Ecuador military cooperation in this area as good. She acknowledged that the GOE and the USG had common goals in the northern border region including combating drug trafficking, protecting the northern border, and containing the Colombian conflict. She emphasized, however, that realizing these goals was expensive and that it required a great deal of "political energy." Espinosa noted that Ecuador has the largest number of refugees in Latin America and that 98% are Colombian. She stressed the need for the international community, specifically Colombia, to "share responsibility" for the situation. ¶5. (C) Ambassador Tobias explained that his role is to "rationalize the manner in which foreign aid is spent." He explained that U.S. foreign assistance should be an investment and should be consistent with Ecuadorian priorities. He emphasized the importance of shifting the focus of foreign aid from just service delivery to also include capacity-building. Our goal, he noted, is to help Ecuador build the capacity to sustain further progress on its own, eventually by phasing out the need for foreign inputs. One issue in going forward, he noted, is how to build this capacity in local organizations. It would not happen overnight, he acknowledged. ¶6. (U) Espinosa agreed that Ecuadorian NGOs and institutions should be strengthened. She noted that she had observed an erosion of the effectiveness of international NGOs over the years. She specifically noted that USAID and other European aid organizations often give priority to foreign NGOs and often provide funding to their own experts, consultants, materials, and agenda. Building Ecuador's capacity to absorb foreign aid and to take ownership of aid projects would be more effective, she said. ¶7. (C) Espinosa said the GOE plans to legalize the estimated half-million undocumented Colombians currently living in Ecuador out of "concern for human rights and to avoid a double standard" with regard to GOE pressure for legalization of undocumented Ecuadorians living in the United States. She expressed hope that the U.S. would take a similar action with regard to undocumented Ecuadorians living in the United States. Espinosa stressed the importance to Ecuador of its estimated 3 million citizens currently living abroad, noting that remittances are Ecuador's second most important source of income, totaling an estimated $2.5 billion/year. FM Concerned About ATPA Extension -------------- ¶8. (C) Espinosa expressed GOE hope that the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA) would be extended beyond the June expiration date, calling it "more important than any other bilateral assistance." She said that jobs created under ATPA were key to generating licit income in Ecuador. Espinosa recalled recent visits to Ecuador by U.S. Senators Reid and Nelson and efforts by the Ecuadorian Embassy in Washington, sharing the GOE's impression that a good political environment exists in Washington for ATPA extension. Refraining from any direct mention of a free trade agreement, Espinosa also acknowledged the need to establish a long-term "trade framework" with the United States. ¶9. (C) Ambassador Jewell asked whether Espinosa still planned to travel to Washington to discuss ATPA with members of the U.S. Congress. PDAS Shapiro suggested that an Espinosa visit would be useful and provide the GOE with additional access to members of Congress. Espinosa said she hoped to travel to Washington in April. National Police Chief Appreciative of USG Aid -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Ambassador Tobias, PDAS Shapiro, and Ambassador Jewell met with Ecuadorian National Police Chief General Bolivar Cisneros to discuss counter-narcotics cooperation on February 27. Ambassador Tobias opened the meeting by congratulating Cisneros on his recent promotion from Anti-narcotics Director to Chief of National Police, noting that the U.S. interpreted his promotion as a sign of continued counter-narcotics cooperation. Cisneros thanked Ambassador Tobias for U.S. assistance to implement the new money laundering law, construct new police checkpoints, and support intelligence coordination. He noted that the flow of cocaine, chemical precursors, and laundered money into Ecuador is on the rise, requiring a commensurate increase in police capacity to respond. ¶11. (SBU) Cisneros assured Ambassador Tobias that close cooperation on counter-narcotics would continue and, when asked for his top priorities in this area, mentioned 1) increased intelligence on traffickers, especially intelligence that will help target individuals at the higher levels of trafficking organizations; 2) greater police presence in the southern regions of the country where drug and precursor trafficking is increasing (he correctly noted that in the past the U.S. through NAS has built and supported police facilities mainly on the Northern Border); 3) assistance in interdicting contraband fuel shipments to Colombia in the North and Peru in the South (which support trafficking operations); 4) assistance in procuring police helicopters to reduce dependency on military assets to move officers and materials, especially along the Northern Border; 5) continued logistical support for anti-narcotics police in the form of fuel, radios, and vehicles; and 6) continued support to more effectively combat money laundering. ¶12. (SBU) Ambassador Tobias described recent budget reviews in Washington and the need to prioritize various international commitments while addressing a growing budget deficit. He said that while combating narco-trafficking in Ecuador is extremely important, and the U.S. will continue to support it as much as possible, there had been a necessary reduction in assistance for this activity in the Andean countries. At the same time, Ambassador Tobias noted, U.S. assistance to Latin America has doubled under the Bush Administration, demonstrating a continued strong commitment to the region. Cisneros responded that he looked forward to continuing close cooperation in combating narcotics trafficking and welcomed whatever assistance the U.S. could provide. Competitiveness Meeting Reveals Concerns -------------- ¶13. (U) Ambassador Tobias, PDAS Shapiro, and the DCM on February 27 attended a USAID-led roundtable discussion on economic growth with USAID economic development partners, private sector representatives, and GOE officials. Cacao, coffee, broccoli, and leather producers highlighted their success in penetrating new markets and generating new jobs with USAID assistance. During the exchange, Vice Minister of Industry for Competitiveness Esteban Vega discussed the need to improve Ecuador's competitiveness, noting that globalization has led to a "world-based market which we must access." Vega praised the role that USAID has contributed to this effort. He also stressed the importance of ATPA renewal for Ecuador. Former Minister of Labor Jose Serrano explained the importance of labor reform, and expressed hope that the new government would continue efforts to promote employment of persons with disabilities and combat child labor. USAID's presence is essential to counter the increasing influence of countries with "less positive" agendas, Serrano declared. Civil Society Leaders Concerned -------------- ¶14. (SBU) Ambassador Tobias, PDAS Shapiro, Ambassador Jewell, the DCM and USAID Director on February 27 met with seven well-respected Ecuadorian civil society members to discuss the challenges of democracy in Ecuador. During the luncheon, attendees expressed concern over President Correa's relative political inexperience, his apparent attempts to concentrate power in the presidency, and the lack of a coordinated response from the political elite. Several participants noted the need for political reform, but asserted that most Ecuadorians reject "Chavez-style" change. These civil society leaders unanimously expressed concern over the uncertainty generated by the government's proposed national constituent assembly, recognizing that it offered potential gains but also serious risks. They also shared concern about the dearth of new-generation leadership, reflected most acutely in the failures and lack of confidence in political parties. All agreed that Ecuador is at an important crossroads in its democratic development. Ambassador Tobias Discusses Cooperation with Press -------------- -------------- ¶15. (U) In a 15-minute press conference at the Quito international airport prior to his departure for Peru, Ambassador Tobias publicly expressed USG interest in continuing counter-narcotics programs and development initiatives that serve to improve the quality of life in Ecuador. Responding to a question on the USG's willingness to work with a Correa government that has forged closer relations with Chavez, Ambassador Tobias explained that the U.S. stands ready to work with any democratically elected government that wishes to work with the U.S. He noted that U.S. assistance to Latin America has doubled under President Bush, demonstrating a continued commitment to the region. Comment -------------- ¶16. (C) Ambassador Tobias' trip to Ecuador served the dual purpose of demonstrating high-level USG interest in Ecuador and underscoring our message of positive engagement with the new Correa administration. His visit also helped to underscore continued USG support for regional counter-narcotics and counter-terror efforts. ¶17. (U) This cable has been cleared by Ambassadors Tobias and Shapiro. JEWELL