NEW FOREIGN MINISTER FANDER FALCONI

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 001145 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2028 TAGS: PGOV PREL EFIN ECON EC SUBJECT: NEW FOREIGN MINISTER FANDER FALCONI Classified By: DCM Andrew Chritton for reason 1.4 (D) ¶1. (C) Summary: Fander Falconi, who previously headed the National Planning and Development Secretariat and plays a prominent role in President Correa,s PAIS political movement, was sworn in as Ecuador,s new Foreign Minister on December 15. In post,s few interactions with him, he has not appeared ideological. Falconi taught economics and environmental management at several universities prior to entering government in January 2007. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Falconi supported President Correa,s campaign in 2006, at which time he was Coordinator of the Economic Research and Doctoral Program at the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences in Quito (the source of a number of Correa administration officials). He is considered one of the founders of the Proud and Sovereign Fatherland (PAIS) movement and currently serves on its political bureau. However, we do not see Falconi as among the few advisors closest to Correa, but rather in the next tier. ¶3. (C) Correa appointed Falconi the National Secretary for Planning and Development in January 2007. This Secretariat gained stature during Falconi,s tenure, producing a National Development Plan that was supposed to be the blueprint for all agencies and was given a important role under the new Constitution. At the same time, Falconi presided over an effort to expand and strengthen the role of the Planning Secretariat. For example, the Secretariat was to take over the economic planning role from the Ministry of Finance. However, the Secretariat was not effective in managing this expanded capacity, and some of those responsibilities have flowed to other institutions or have been ignored. Likewise, we do not see that the National Development Plan has had much influence in guiding policy to date. ¶4. (C) One of post,s few interactions with Falconi was when former Ambassador Linda Jewell called on him in 2007. During that meeting, he was gracious and pragmatic, showing no sign of anti-American baggage. ¶5. (C) The new Minister of Foreign Relations, Trade and Integration, like his two predecessors under the Correa administration, is a foreign policy novice. The press has speculated that Correa chose Falconi because he is considered knowledgeable about international debt issues and capable of persuading some members of the international community that the GOE was justified in defaulting on its debt. ¶6. (U) Biographic information follows: Full name - Fander FALCONI Benitez Date of birth ) September 19, 1962 Education PhD in Environmental Science, Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, 2001 Masters degree in Ecological Economics and Environmental Management, Universidad Automona de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, 1999 Masters degree in Economics, Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO),Quito and San Jose, Costa Rica. Bachelors degree, Pontifica Universidad Catolica del Ecuador, Quito, 1991. Recent Work Experience National Secretary of Planning of Development under Correa government, January 2007 to December 2008 Coordinator of the Economic Research and Doctoral Program at the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO), Quito, 2004-2006 Professor and International Researcher, and Coordinator of the Economics Program, FLACSO, Quito, 2001-2004 Coordinator of the External Debt Area, Center of Economic, social, and Cultural Rights, CDES (a NGO),Quito, 2001 Consultant for CARE, the Nature Foundation, and the United Nations Development Program during various periods from 1989 to 2002. Publications Book ) Economy and Sustainable Development: Happy Marriage or Foretold Divorce, 2002. Numerous book chapters and journal articles, including a number co-authored with former Constituent Assembly president Alberto Acosta (Note: Complete CV was sent by e-mail to WHA/AND.) HODGES