AMBASSADOR RESPONDS TO CORREA'S HARSH CRITICISM OF

id: 149068 date: 4/8/2008 19:23 refid: 08QUITO327 origin: Embassy Quito classification: SECRET destination: 08QUITO288 header: VZCZCXYZ0028 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHQT #0327 0991923 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 081923Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY QUITO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8713 INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 7497 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 3881 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 2977 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ APR LIMA 2543 RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL 3484 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL -------------- header ends -------------- S E C R E T QUITO 000327 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: TEN YEARS TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR PTER MOPS EC CO SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RESPONDS TO CORREA'S HARSH CRITICISM OF CIA REF: QUITO 288 Classified By: Ambassador Linda Jewell for Reasons 1.4 (b&d) ¶1. (SBU) President Rafael Correa, in an April 4 television interview in Loja and again in his April 5 weekly radio address, stated that the GOE would take severe measures to address what he termed Ecuador's intelligence services' failure to provide him complete, timely and accurate information. Correa claimed that Ecuador's intelligence services had been taken over by the "CIA," which had passed vital information from and about Ecuador to the Colombian government. Insinuating that he could become a victim of an attack at any moment, the President warned in his radio address: "Do not believe in aerial accidents, helicopters falling down, or airplanes crashing.... I do not want to die yet. Enough of (Ecuadorian) intelligence services that are financed by the Embassy of the United States.... We will end that and have intelligence services that belong to Ecuadorians and for Ecuadorians, not to serve foreign powers." ¶2. (C) What apparently set Correa off was that he learned about military intelligence information on Ecuadorian citizen Franklin Aisalla's ties to the FARC from the press rather than from the military commanders. Aisalla was killed (reftel) in the March 1 Colombian attack on a FARC camp in Ecuador. ¶3. (S/NF) The Ambassador communicated her strong objections to Correa's remarks in conversations with the GOE leadership on April 7. She spoke separately by phone with Correa and Government and Police Minister Fernando Bustamante, and in person with Vice Foreign Minister Jose Valencia, Defense Minister Wellington Sandoval, and Principal Under Secretary of Defense Miguel Carvajal. The Ambassador called President Correa's comments unhelpful and said they needed to be toned down and any concerns put into proper channels. She stressed that the GOE leadership knew perfectly well about the relationship that USG had with various GOE intelligence services and that it was similar to that in many countries worldwide. The Ambassador emphasized that these activities were in no way directed against Correa or his government. She asked why the GOE had not spoken directly with her before Correa made public comments directed against us and said we were available to discuss any questions or concerns. ¶4. (S/NF) President Correa returned the Ambassador's call quickly and was very cordial. He conceded that he knew the USG was not acting against him but insisted that his intelligence services were not serving him well and would be investigated. The Ambassador said we would be willing to provide a full briefing on our assistance to the intelligence services to him or any member of his staff he chose to delegate. Clearly disturbed by the President's statements, Sandoval commented that he was not sure where the President received his information, but speculated that he reacted to news he read every morning. Joint Command Chief of Staff General Fabian Varela, who participated in the meeting with Sandoval, made clear that the GOE would be "blind" without information and cooperation it received from the USG. Even Defense Principal Under Secretary Carvajal, who is closely tied to the left, admitted that what the USG was doing was normal and accepted. Jewell =======================CABLE ENDS============================