ECUADOR AND COLOMBIA AT LEAST BACK TO TALKING

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000783 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: TEN YEARS TAGS: PGOV PREL AORC MOPS EC CO SUBJECT: ECUADOR AND COLOMBIA AT LEAST BACK TO TALKING REF: QUITO 488 Classified By: Ambassador Heather Hodges for Reasons 1.4 (b&d) ¶1. (C) Summary: After putting their dialogue in the deep freeze earlier this summer, Ecuador-Colombia relations are now thawing a bit as ministerial level contact resumed with an August 15 meeting between the two foreign ministers on the margins of the presidential inauguration in Paraguay. The countries agreed to resume vice-ministerial discussions, and OAS Secretary General Insulza announced that a follow-on ministerial meeting may occur at the UN General Assembly. The OAS shared with us the three conditions to the resumption of diplomatic relations that President Correa laid out during his July 30 meeting with OAS Secretary General Insulza. They are: a full explanation of the March 1 raid that killed Reyes, including proof that no third country was involved; a recognition of Ecuador,s efforts to secure its border; and a greater Colombian presence on its side of the border. (End Summary) Resumption of Dialogue ¶2. (SBU) Ecuadorian FM Maria Isabel Salvador and Colombian FM Jaime Bermudez met for the first time on August 15 in Paraguay on the margins of the presidential inauguration. News of the meeting was released by OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza, who reportedly commented that "prospects are good for both parties to continue progress," but that there also are "still some pending issues." Insulza mentioned that the two foreign ministers may meet again on the margins of the UNGA. ¶3. (C) During an August 18 visit to Quito, Senator Christopher Bond (R-MO) discussed the current state of relations between Ecuador and Colombia with Acting Foreign Minister Jose Valencia. Valencia, who participated in four bilateral meetings with his Colombian counterpart under OAS auspices (the last on June 10 in Washington),said the timing was right for the meeting between the two foreign ministers. He added that the meeting allowed the two ministers to begin to establish a relationship and that Salvador and Bermudez decided to resume consultations between their Vice Ministers. Multilateral Affairs Under Secretary Emilio Izquierdo told PolCouns on August 20 that the first meeting would likely take place during the first week of September. Ecuador's Conditions ¶4. (C) In a meeting with PolCouns August 1, OAS Representative in Ecuador Antonio Aranibar discussed OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza's second visit to Quito on July 30. He explained that President Correa outlined to Insulza three GOE conditions that must be met before re-establishing diplomatic relations with Colombia. The first was a clear explanation, supported by proof, of what occurred during the Colombian attack in Ecuadorian territory on March 1. This "proof" would include Colombia's videos from the attack and allowing the GOE to verify that Colombia received no assistance from a third party (meaning the U.S.). This request follows an agreement reached in a May 21 meeting in Panama between the two countries' military leaders to hand over proof that there was no third party intervention. The military meeting had also resulted in agreement on the creation of a "cartilla de seguridad", or a set of guidelines for security coordination along the border (Ref A). ¶5. (C) Correa's second demand was that the GOC stop all public accusations that the GOE has links to the FARC and that the GOE recognize publicly the efforts made by the GOE to secure its northern border. The GOE thinks it does not get the credit it should for the successes it has in the battle against the FARC in the northern border region. The Fourth Division Army Commander recently told Military Group officials that the Ecuadorian military has destroyed 170 FARC camps and six drug labs and eradicated 36 hectares of coca since August 2007. ¶6. (C) The third demand was that Colombia improve the control of its own southern border. This demand has been frequently voiced by GOE officials. On August 14, for example, Vice Defense Minister Miguel Carvajal stated that "Colombia needs to control its territory that borders with Ecuador." ¶7. (C) According to Aranibar, Secretary General Insulza told Correa that beyond the negotiation of conditions, what is needed is a change of attitude when handling these issues including restraining from any public statements or accusations. He added that the existing climate was ideal to continue forward progress. Correa said President Uribe acts certain ways as a result of pressure from hardliners within his government, such as from Defense Minister Santos. Insulza interpreted this comment as a veiled statement by Correa that Uribe's actions have been understandable. Earlier Dialogue Derailment ¶8. (C) Following accusatory comments by Correa, President Uribe on June 24 froze the process of re-establishing diplomatic relations. This reversed an earlier agreement to re-establish ties at the Charge d'Affaires level which was brokered by President Carter. The GOE responded by suspending relations indefinitely on June 25. Looking to lower tensions and establish a process to reopen a bilateral dialogue, a dialogue group organized by the Carter Center with governmental and nongovernmental participants from both countries (Reftel) met with President Correa on June 26. Carter Center representative Kelly McBride told us that Correa opened the meeting by criticizing GOE officials who participated in the Carter Center dialogue, yielded not an inch, and ended it abruptly by walking out. ¶9. (C) Comment: The reduction in rhetoric by the presidents of both Ecuador and Colombia over the past eight weeks and SYG Insulza's encouragement appears to have set the stage for resumption of bilateral meetings. The Correa administration is clear that negotiation of its conditions will be the focus of its future consultations with Colombia. It also remains clear that for Correa the issue remains deeply personal as he feels that he was betrayed and humiliated by Uribe. Hodges