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