COASTAL YOUTH ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT NEW U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L GUAYAQUIL 000023


E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2019
TAGS: PGOV EC
SUBJECT: COASTAL YOUTH ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT NEW U.S.
ADMINISTRATION

Classified By: Consul General Douglas Griffiths for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: To celebrate President Barack Obama,s
inauguration, Consulate General Guayaquil invited 25 young
Ecuadorian leaders to participate in an informal discussion
on what his election means for the world. The participants
uniformly applauded the fact that the U.S. had elected an
African-American candidate who had so successfully energized
our country,s youth. They expressed optimism that the Obama
administration would seek to improve relations with Latin
America, but tempered their sentiments with a realistic
acknowledgement that other issues would probably occupy the
President,s time in the short term. The participants
praised the orderly transfer of power in the U.S. and
expressed their frustration at the decades of turmoil that
have wracked Ecuador. Reflecting the growing unease on the
coast for President Rafael Correa,s polemic dialogue and
foreign policy direction, the young leaders (even those in
government) roundly criticized Correa,s recent trips to Iran
and Cuba. END SUMMARY.

YOUNG COASTAL LEADERS EXCITED ABOUT OBAMA PRESIDENCY...
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2. (U) As part of its celebration of President Obama,s
inauguration on January 20, Consulate General Guayaquil
organized a representational event at the Consul General,s
house, to which it invited a group of Ecuadorians from three
different cities who are under the age of 35 and future
leaders in their respective fields. Twenty-five of
Ecuador,s rising stars in journalism, politics/government,
education, civil society, sports and music attended and
participated in a series of small discussion groups led by
Consulate entry-level officers that focused on the
significance of Barack Obama,s election for the U.S. and
Latin America.


3. (C) As a group, the invited guests expressed delight at
Obama,s victory, opining that it gave hope to people from
minority and/or disenfranchised groups around the world.
They were thrilled at the idea of an African-American
president who connects with and motivates young people.
Several young leaders commented on President Obama,s use of
YouTube and Facebook during his campaign. The participants
also expressed hope regarding the impact of Obama,s election
in Latin America. They noted that former President Bush only
visited Colombia in his eighth year in office and when he
thought of the hemisphere, seemed to focus only on Mexico and
Central America. The guests felt that President Obama,s
stated plans to rely more on diplomacy as a tool in
international relations will help him pursue a more
collaborative and constructively involved policy in the
region.

...BUT WARY THAT EXPECTATIONS MAY BE TOO HIGH
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4. (C) Although hopeful that President Obama will be able to
achieve what he promised during the 2008 campaign, the young
leaders who participated in the chat tempered their optimism
with concerns that the world might be setting the bar too
high for him. They noted that it may be difficult for the
President to maintain such high approval ratings in the face
of difficult challenges, such as the economic crisis and the
Iraq War. In addition, the participants acknowledged that
the President would likely have to focus on domestic economic
issues first, leaving global concerns on the back burner
initially. They believe that Latin America will not be a
priority at first, as the new administration will probably be
focused on more pressing concerns in the Middle East.
Despite their hopes for improved U.S.-Ecuador relations, the
young leaders were skeptical that a more permanent trade
agreement (something for which many Ecuadorians still hope)
would be a priority.

PARTICIPANTS EXPRESS ADMIRATION FOR U.S. POLITICAL PROCESS
--------------


5. (C) The invited guests uniformly commended the U.S. for
its open political process and its orderly transfer of power.
Just as many Ecuadorians expressed surprise at the fact that
former President Bush and John McCain called President Obama
to congratulate him on Election Night, the participants in
the chat were impressed that Bush and Obama shared the same
stage in the Inauguration and that Obama complimented Bush
during his address. They were similarly impressed that a
U.S. president would choose a Secretary of Defense who had
been a member of the previous administration. They
contrasted the smooth transition to a new government in the
U.S. with Ecuador,s checkered history of overthrowing
presidents before the end of their terms. &If only we could
learn from your system,8 said one participant.

ECUADORIAN GOVERNMENT DRAWS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS PRAISE
--------------


6. (C) In addition to lambasting their country,s political
system, many of the participants were also highly critical of
President Rafael Correa,s government. They pointed to
Obama,s success at pursuing policies of openness and
inclusion and derided the Ecuadorian president for dividing
the country through his persistent attacks and negativity.
The guests also blasted Correa for reaching out to Iran and
Cuba during recent trips to both countries. Surprisingly,
three participants who hold political appointee positions in
the government cautiously joined in on the criticism of the
trips. They wondered about the President,s reaching out to
countries that shared few values with Ecuador. (Note: These
comments reflect a continuing regional divide, since young
people in the highlands would likely have been much more
positive about Correa. They also reflect class divides as
most of our guests were either middle class or striving to
join the middle class.)

BIG OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE U.S. IMAGE IN ECUADOR
--------------


7. (C) COMMENT: The election of a popular new President who
has promised a more collaborative approach to the world has
coastal Ecuadorians yearning for a closer relationship with
the U.S., and Ecuadorians are probably now more receptive
than ever to U.S. outreach, programs and messages. With
heightened attention to what we are doing, efforts by the USG
to show that we are taking an active interest in Ecuador will
be noted.


GRIFFITHS