GOE'S HEIGHTENED RHETORIC RENEWS TENSIONS WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 001042

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: TWENTY YEARS
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER MOPS EC PE
SUBJECT: GOE'S HEIGHTENED RHETORIC RENEWS TENSIONS WITH
COLOMBIA

Classified By: Ambassador Heather M. Hodges for Reasons 1.4 (b&d)


1. (C) Summary: The GOE again directed harsh words against
the Colombian government in late October. President Correa
threatened to restrict Colombian citizens' entries into
Ecuador, file another international lawsuit against Colombia,
and reiterated that Bogota was to blame for the lack of
bilateral relations because of its March 1 attack into
Ecuadorian sovereign territory. The GOE also sent a
diplomatic note to the OAS October 29 denouncing Colombia's
ineffective control of its southern territory. The Ministry
of Defense announced the government's plan to upgrade the
military's equipment to monitor and protect the northern
border. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Foreign Minister Maria Isabel Salvador, along with
Minister of Government Fernando Bustamante and Minister
Coordinator for Internal and External Security Gustavo
Larrea, held a press conference on October 29 to denounce
Colombia's ineffective control of its southern territory.
Salvador explained that Ecuador presented a diplomatic note
to the OAS on October 29 demanding that Colombia inform
Ecuador on three areas to control FARC members from crossing
the border: results of military actions; court cases; and
administrative actions being undertaken to control public
order in the Narino and Putumayo departments. The note also
asked Colombia to explain what sanctions and punishments it
had imposed on those responsible for the March 1 attack. The
Ecuadorian note was in response to Bogota's three diplomatic
notes on October 20, which claimed that the FARC had 42 camps
and 16 coordinating points within Ecuador. The GOE denied
Colombia's assertions. Bustamante stated that Colombia
needed to focus its efforts on carrying out its
responsibilities within its own territory. Larrea stated
that Ecuador was a regional leader against narcotics
trafficking. (Note. The Foreign Ministry website
(www.mmrree.gov.ec) lists all of Ecuador's efforts to protect
the northern border region. End Note.)


3. (SBU) President Rafael Correa had renewed criticism of
Colombia on October 27, during his speech to commemorate the
88th anniversary of the Ecuadorian AIR Force, by blaming
Colombia for the diplomatic stalemate between the two
countries after the 1 March attack. Correa promised that the
national government, Ecuadorian people, and Armed Forces
would never again let anyone or any country attack Ecuador.
"Under these conditions we do not have the least interest in
resuming diplomatic relations with Colombia," he said.
Correa announced that he was considering restricting the
entry of Colombian citizens into Ecuador.


4. (SBU) The GOE threatened to file an international lawsuit
against Colombia for reportedly refusing to help free an
Ecuadorian citizen kidnapped in Ecuador and held in Colombia.
Government Minister Fernando Bustamante accused Colombia on
October 23 of failing to cooperate in the rescue of
Ecuadorian businessman Kleber Larriva, who was taken to
Colombia six months ago and held for ransom. The man was
freed on October 20 in Colombian territory after Ecuador
negotiated directly with the kidnappers, with no help from
Colombian police or military despite knowing Larriva's
location. Bustamante indicated the incident shows that
Colombia "does not have control of its own territory."


5. (SBU) Also that same day, Principal Under Secretary of
Defense Miguel Carvajal announced that Ecuador planned to
invest approximately $580 million - almost four percent of
the country's 2009 budget - by 2011 to bolster the Armed
Forces, particularly on the northern border with Colombia.
Carvajal commented that the GOE increased its military's
upgrades after the March 1 Colombian attack. He stated that
$470 million will be spent on purchasing 24 Brazilian-made
Super Tucano airplanes, three radars, and equipment for the
northern border troops. Ecuador also will spend roughly $55
million to buy transport helicopters from India and Russia,
six unmanned aircraft from Israel, and a fleet of patrol
boats from Italy.


6. (C) Comment: The Ecuadorian government's increased
rhetoric and threats against Colombia indicate that high
level bilateral relations are unlikely to resume in the
short-term. OAS mediation efforts appear invisible of late.

Bilateral relations could worsen if Ecuador follows through
with filing an international lawsuit and restricting the
entry of Colombian citizens into Ecuador. The latter move is
ironic in light of the GOE's efforts to get more recognition
for the support it provides Colombian refugees, and its June
20 decision not to require tourist visas for any nationality.
HODGES