ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE: ECUADOR ON U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000255 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: TWENTY YEARS TAGS: PGOV PREL EC PHUM AORC OAS IAHRC SUBJECT: ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE: ECUADOR ON U.S. CANDIDATE FOR OAS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONA REF: A. A. STATE 28833 ¶B. B. APRIL 9 WHA/USOAS STEVENSON E-MAIL Classified By: DCM Andrew Chritton for Reasons 1.4 (b&d) ¶1. (C) POLOFF delivered Ref A points to MFA Multilateral Affairs Director General Lourdes Puma on April 6. Puma said that the GOE had its own candidate, Ambassador Luis Moreno, for another OAS body, the Juridical Committee and that the GOE was seeking an exchange of votes. There are four candidates for the Juridical Committee -- Ecuador, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela -- and only three seats available. Puma stated that the GOE,s priority is to support those who support the GOE. POLOFF responded that USG practice is not to trade votes, but would transmit the information regarding the GOE's candidate. ¶2. (C) In a follow up conversation on April 13, POLOFF told Puma per Ref B that Ecuador had presented a very qualified candidate to the Juridical Committee and that we would be interested in discussing the merits of our respective candidates through our Missions to the OAS. Puma responded that she thought there was a good possibility that Ecuador would support Shelton's candidacy. HODGES