ECUADOR GIVES OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION TO TERMINATE

UNCLAS QUITO 000694 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR MASS MOPS PREL EC SUBJECT: ECUADOR GIVES OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION TO TERMINATE MANTA FOL AGREEMENT ¶1. (SBU) The Embassy received a faxed copy of a diplomatic note from the Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 29, 2008, at 6:36pm notifying of the GOE's decision to terminate the Agreement of Cooperation on the Manta Forwarding Operating Location (FOL). Minutes before the MFA sent the fax, the MFA issued a press bulletin confirming that the MFA had officially notified the USG of its decision. The original diplomatic note was given personally by the Acting Foreign Minister Jose Valencia to the Charge on July 30. We have sent an electronic copy of the diplomatic note and annex to WHA/AND. Following is the Embassy's unofficial translation of the diplomatic note. ¶2. (U) Begin text of diplomatic note: Note No. 38387 ) GM-SSNRF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, COMMERCE AND INTEGRATION presents its compliments to the Honorable Embassy of the United States of America, with the purpose to refer to the Agreement of Cooperation Between the Government of the Republic of Ecuador and the Government of the United States of AMERICA Concerning United States Access to and Use of Installations at the Ecuadorian Air Force Base in Manta for Aerial Counter-Narcotics Activities. In this regard and according to the conversations held between representatives of both countries, the Government of the Republic of Ecuador officially communicates to the Honorable Embassy of the United States of America, its decision to terminate the agreement subscribed on November 12, 1999. Likewise, and based on understandings attained, the operations conducted by the Forward Operating Location (FOL) in the Manta Base will be suspended beginning the month of August 2009, and the Forward Operating Location (FOL) will be withdrawn, permanently, from the Ecuadorian Air Force Base, FAE, in Manta, in the month of November of that same year, in accordance with the attached timeline. In conformity with the provisions of the Agreement (Art. 12) the installations where the Manta FOL currently operates will be transferred to the corresponding authority of the Ecuadorian Air Force. THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, COMMERCE AND INTEGRATION takes this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the assurance of its highest consideration Quito, July 29, 2008 To the Honorable Embassy of the United States of America City End text of diplomatic note ¶3. (U) Begin text of attached timeline (columns delineated by semicolon) Id; Name of the area; Duration; Start 1; SCHEDULE FOR THE TRANSFER OF THE FOL FACILITIES TO THE COMBAT WING No. 23; 81 days; Fri. 07/31/09 2; END OF OPERATIONS OF THE FOL; 0 days; Fri. 07/31/09 3; REVISION OF INSTALLATIONS; 37 days; Fri. 07/31/09 4; OPERATIONS AREA; 15 days; Fri. 07/31/09 5; FIRE FIGHTERS AREA; 7 days; Fri. 08/21/09 6; SOCIAL AREA ; 15 days; Tue. 09/01/09 7; HAND-OVER OF BUILDINGS AND INFRASTRUCTURE; 43 days; Tue. 09/22/09 8; OPERATIONS AREA; 18 days; Tue. 09/22/09 9; FIRE SIMULATOR PLATFORM; 3 days; Tue. 09/22/09 10; PARKING LOT; 1 day; Fri. 09/25/09 11; CIVIL ENGINEERING WAREHOUSE; 1 day; Mon. 09/28/09 12; RESTROOMS; 1 day; Tue. 09/29/09 13; FUEL PLATFORM JP1; 1 day; Wed. 09/30/09 14; ADMINISTRATION BUILDING; 2 days; Thu. 10/01/09 15; POTABLE WATER TREATMENT PLANT; 2 days; Mon. 10/05/09 16; LOGISTICS WORKSHOP; 2 days; Wed. 10/07/09 17; MAINTENANCE WORKSHOP; 2 days; Fri. 10/09/09 18; AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE HANGAR; 2 days; Tue. 10/13/09 19; SECURITY BOOTH; 1 day; Thu. 10/15/09 20; SOCIAL AREA; 20 days; Fri. 10/15/09 21; GYMNASIUM #550; 2 days; Fri. 10/15/09 22; SPORTS AREA; 1 day; Tue. 10/20/09 23; DRESSING ROOMS AND RESTROOMS SPORTS AREA #85; 1 day; Wed. 10/21/09 24; DORM BUILDING #900; 2 days; Thu. 10/22/09 25; DORM BUILDING #950; 2 days; Mon. 10/26/09 26; RECREATION CENTER #1250; 1 day; Wed. 10/28/09 27; POTABLE WATER TREATMENT PLANT #1000; 1 day; Thu. 10/29/09 28; SECURITY BOOTH #1275; 1 day; Fri. 10/30/09 29; CLOSED AREA #910; 1 day; Mon. 11/02/09 30; CLOSED AREA #810; 1 day; Tue. 11/03/09 31; REFRIGERATION AREA #710; 1 day; Wed. 11/04/09 32; KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM #700; 3 days; Thu. 11/05/09 33; DORM BUILDING #810; 2 days; Tue. 11/10/09 34; SECURITY BOOTH #1200; 1 day; Thu. 11/12/09 35; FIRE FIGHTERS AREA; 5 days; Fri. 11/13/09 36; FIRE DEPARTMENT #600; 3 days; Fri. 11/13/09 37; POTABLE WATER STORAGE PLATFORM #50A; 1 day; Wed. 11/18/09 38; ADMINISTRATION BUILDING 2 OPERATIONS AREA; 1 day; Thu. 11/19/09 39; FAREWELL CEREMONY AND THANK YOU; 1 day; Fri. 11/20/09 40; HAND-OVER AND RECEIPT OF INSTALLATIONS; 0 days; Fri. 11/20/09 Project: TRANSFER OF FOL INSTALLATIONS TO COMBAT WING No. 23 End text of attached timeline. CDA Griffiths