MFA CONVERSATIONS WITH AMBASSADOR ON PNG DECISION

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000126 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: TWENTY YEARS TAGS: PREL PTER SNAR EC SUBJECT: MFA CONVERSATIONS WITH AMBASSADOR ON PNG DECISION REF: A. QUITO 100 ¶B. QUITO 113 ¶C. QUITO 122 ¶D. QUITO 103 ... id: 192700 date: 2/19/2009 0:39 refid: 09QUITO126 origin: Embassy Quito classification: CONFIDENTIAL destination: 09QUITO100|09QUITO103|09QUITO113|09QUITO122 header: VZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHQT #0126/01 0500039 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 190039Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY QUITO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0065 INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 7977 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 4092 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 3400 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ FEB LIMA 3043 RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL 4112 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 2264 RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC -------------- header ends -------------- C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000126 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: TWENTY YEARS TAGS: PREL PTER SNAR EC SUBJECT: MFA CONVERSATIONS WITH AMBASSADOR ON PNG DECISION REF: A. QUITO 100 ¶B. QUITO 113 ¶C. QUITO 122 ¶D. QUITO 103 Classified By: Ambassador Heather Hodges for reason 1.4 (D) ¶1. (C) Summary: The Ambassador, in February 18 conversations with FM Falconi and Vice Minister Pozo, stressed the harm the expulsion of an Embassy officer would do to our relationship and her regret that she had not had an opportunity to try to address GOE concerns through diplomatic channels. Falconi defended President Correa's decision and obstinately insisted the Ambassador had had adequate opportunity for diplomatic discussions. He suggested that a relationship could be reconstructed, like Phoenix rising from the ashes. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Foreign Ministry Vice Minister Lautaro Pozo called the Ambassador on February 18 at approximately noon to inform her that the GOE's security council, in a meeting that morning, had decided to declare Embassy officer Mark Sullivan persona non grata. He said the GOE would soon hold a press conference to announce the decision. Pozo sounded uncomfortable and apologetic. The conversation abruptly ended when the phone line was cut off. ¶3. (C) Pozo called the Ambassador back to continue the �00A;conversation about an hour later. He soon put Foreign Minister Fander Falconi on the line with the Ambassador. The Ambassador expressed regret that she did not have the opportunity to express our views through diplomatic channels and to discuss how we might address GOE concerns. She said she had a response from Washington to the February 13 request of the GOE that Mark Sullivan be removed, but had not had a chance to deliver it. ¶4. (C) Falconi insisted that the Ambassador had enjoyed that opportunity, claiming she had engaged in many conversations. When she disagreed, he pointed to her meeting with him the previous Sunday evening (February 8, reported in Ref A; this preceded any mention of Sullivan's departure) and her phone conversations with Under Secretary for Bilateral Affairs Jorge Orbe on February 13 and 16 (Ref B). The Ambassador pointed out that she had primarily been in a listening mode during the Orbe conversations and had explained that she would have to take the issue of Sullivan's departure back to Washington, which would not be able to respond immediately due to the February 16 holiday. Falconi refused to listen, and at one point termed diplomatic discussions as "mere formalities." ¶5. (C) The Ambassador pointed out that once again the GOE was using the media to communicate. Falconi disagreed, noting that Pozo and he were even then talking to her and that she would imminently get a diplomatic note informing the Embassy that Sullivan was being PNGed. (Note: The Embassy protocol office received the morning of February 18 one diplomatic note, dated February 16, requesting the Embassy expel Sullivan. It received the second diplomatic note PNGing Sullivan by fax soon after this conversation. See Ref C for text.) Falconi then asserted that the Embassy should have sent Sullivan home by now. The Ambassador retorted that U/S Orbe did not present the request to her in that manner on February 13 and that she reiterated to him on February 16 that it was a U.S. holiday. ¶6. (C) The Ambassador emphasized the damaging effect the GOE's action would have on the U.S.-Ecuador relationship. Falconi responded that the GOE security council had considered the harm to bilateral ties when it made the decision, which reflected President Correa's express wishes. Falconi suggested the relationship could be reconstructed, using the metaphor of a Phoenix rising from the ashes. ¶7. (C) At the end of the conversation, the Ambassador termed the GOE action regrettable. Falconi snapped back that she should not use adjectives as it would "rub salt in the wound." ¶8. (C) COMMENT: President Correa is doubtless under pressure to resolve Ecuador's economic problems and distract attention from what the media is now calling the narco-political scandal (connecting GOE officials with the FARC and its narco-trafficking; see Ref D). This pressure, combined with Correa's emotional immaturity and obsession with protecting Ecuador's sovereignty from any perceived infringements, likely led him to react rashly without concern for the consequences. HODGES =======================CABLE ENDS============================