Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08QUITO497
2008-06-05 21:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Quito
Cable title:
PRESIDENT CORREA'S RESPONSE TO AMBASSADOR ON MANTA
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C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000497
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2028
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS EC
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT CORREA'S RESPONSE TO AMBASSADOR ON MANTA
FOL
REF: WHA/AND E-MAILS OF APRIL 23 AND 28
Classified By: Ambassador Linda Jewell for Reasons 1.4 (b&d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000497
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2028
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS EC
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT CORREA'S RESPONSE TO AMBASSADOR ON MANTA
FOL
REF: WHA/AND E-MAILS OF APRIL 23 AND 28
Classified By: Ambassador Linda Jewell for Reasons 1.4 (b&d)
1. (C) Acting on interagency instructions contained in Ref
A, the Ambassador raised the future of the U.S. Forward
Operating Location (FOL) in Manta with President Correa on
the margins of a farewell luncheon June 4. She said the USG
understands that the GOE does not support renewing the
existing FOL agreement on current terms and that the proposed
new constitution would place clear constraints on a continued
permanent U.S. military presence at the Eloy Alfaro Air Base
in Manta. The Ambassador asked if there were any formula
that might be acceptable post-2009 that would allow elements
of the successful cooperation at the FOL to continue,
suggesting specifically the example of continued U.S. flights
operated by civilian agencies such as U.S. Customs or the
Coast Guard.
2. (C) Correa said that all of the facilities must fall
under the control of the GOE following the end of the current
agreement. Retaining any part of the facility for exclusive
U.S. use is not possible. However, he indicated that he was
quite open to discussing U.S. aircraft from the Coast Guard
and Customs using the airfield at Manta for flights in the
future. The Ambassador did not go further into details of
how this might work, but options including a fee for service
model appear to be possible.
3. (C) Correa's tone was neutral and not belligerent. His
response was consistent with his government's perceived need
to protect national sovereignty, to avoid the perception of a
foreign "base" on Ecuadorian soil, while remaining committed
to continued bilateral counternarcotics cooperation.
Jewell
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2028
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS EC
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT CORREA'S RESPONSE TO AMBASSADOR ON MANTA
FOL
REF: WHA/AND E-MAILS OF APRIL 23 AND 28
Classified By: Ambassador Linda Jewell for Reasons 1.4 (b&d)
1. (C) Acting on interagency instructions contained in Ref
A, the Ambassador raised the future of the U.S. Forward
Operating Location (FOL) in Manta with President Correa on
the margins of a farewell luncheon June 4. She said the USG
understands that the GOE does not support renewing the
existing FOL agreement on current terms and that the proposed
new constitution would place clear constraints on a continued
permanent U.S. military presence at the Eloy Alfaro Air Base
in Manta. The Ambassador asked if there were any formula
that might be acceptable post-2009 that would allow elements
of the successful cooperation at the FOL to continue,
suggesting specifically the example of continued U.S. flights
operated by civilian agencies such as U.S. Customs or the
Coast Guard.
2. (C) Correa said that all of the facilities must fall
under the control of the GOE following the end of the current
agreement. Retaining any part of the facility for exclusive
U.S. use is not possible. However, he indicated that he was
quite open to discussing U.S. aircraft from the Coast Guard
and Customs using the airfield at Manta for flights in the
future. The Ambassador did not go further into details of
how this might work, but options including a fee for service
model appear to be possible.
3. (C) Correa's tone was neutral and not belligerent. His
response was consistent with his government's perceived need
to protect national sovereignty, to avoid the perception of a
foreign "base" on Ecuadorian soil, while remaining committed
to continued bilateral counternarcotics cooperation.
Jewell