AMBASSADOR'S FIRST MEETING WITH DEFENSE MINISTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000906

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2028
TAGS: PREL MARR MASS MOPS EC
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S FIRST MEETING WITH DEFENSE MINISTER

REF: A. QUITO 358

B. QUITO 488

C. QUITO 834

Classified By: Ambassador Heather Hodges for Reasons 1.4 (b&d)


1. (C) Summary: The Ambassador paid a courtesy call on
Minister of Defense (MOD) Javier Ponce on September 17. The
discussion was cordial and frank, and Ponce seemed interested
in maintaining a positive working relationship. However,
Minister Ponce expressed a desire to ensure that bilateral
cooperation was coordinated with Ecuador's best interests in
mind. The Minister asked for assistance in purchasing GPS
technology for monitoring marine activity, and confirmed an
interest in visiting the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).
(End Summary)


2. (C) The Ambassador complimented Defense Minister Javier
Ponce on the Ecuadorian military's successes in the Northern
Border region and on its good cooperation with the Embassy.
Ponce expressed appreciation for our bilateral cooperation
but also a concern that the courses given to Ecuadorian
military personnel have not met the needs of the Ecuadorian
military. He commented that a GOE-appointed commission
charged with reviewing the structure of Ecuador's
intelligence services had just completed its report (Refs A,
B, C),and that one of its findings was that military
personnel who have received training in the U.S. feel obliged
to provide the USG with information. He suggested that
working-level contacts from each of the services coordinate
with their counterparts in the Military Group to draft a
training proposal for the Minister's approval. Ponce
suggested that advance notification of course content might
alleviate the problem.


3. (C) Ponce further expressed gratitude for the USG's
assistance in building military infrastructure in the
Northern Border region, but again registered concern with the
operational assistance received in that region.
Specifically, he questioned the role of the Military Group's
Tactical Assistance Field Team (TAFT) position located within
the Ecuadorian military Fourth Division Headquarters in Coca,
Orellana province. (Note: The MOD is likely concerned about
access by the TAFT to information and is not requesting to
decrease USG assistance to the Armed Forces.) Separately,
Minister Ponce suggested to the DATT during a reception at
the Ambassador's residence on September 18 that interested
parties from the Embassy and GOE meet after the September 28
constitutional referendum to discuss the TAFT position.


4. (C) Minister Ponce asked the Ambassador for USG financial
assistance to help buy GPS chip technology that would allow
the GOE's security forces to monitor the location of all
boats less than 20 tons in size (Ref C). The DATT noted that
while the proposed GPS technology would assist the GOE in
identifying beaconed ships, the USG-offered Cooperative
Nation Information Exchange System (CNIES) would be a good
complement to the technology, helping to identify both ships
that are beaconed and not beaconed. (Note: The GOE has not
agreed to sign a CNIES agreement. Although military leaders
have expressed interest in signing, political leadership has
objected to the clause restricting lethal use of force,
considering it an infringement on Ecuadorian sovereignty.)


5. (C) General Pena raised the issue of Ecuador's
recognition of a 200 nautical mile delineation of territorial
waters, and noted that during a brief bilateral meeting on
September 5 with Principal Assistant Secretary of Defense
Peter Verga and WHA DASD Steve Johnson at the Defense
Ministerial of the Americas meeting in Banff, Canada, Verga
agreed to provide a courtesy notification to the GOE when
U.S. assets enter international waters within Ecuador's
exclusive economic zone (200 nautical miles offshore).
(Note: U.S. cables on the same meeting indicate no discussion
of the issue.)

6. (C) Following up on SOUTHCOM Commander Admiral Stavridis'
original invitation during his June 10 visit to Quito,
Ambassador Hodges asked whether Minister Ponce would be
interested in visiting SOUTHCOM. Ponce responded that he
would not be able to do so now, but asked for the Military
Group commander to arrange future dates and details with the
Minister's staff.
Hodges