EMBASSY MEETS WITH GOE DELEGATION ON MANTA FOL

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000389 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: TWENTY YEARS TAGS: PREL MARR MASS MOPS EC SUBJECT: EMBASSY MEETS WITH GOE DELEGATION ON MANTA FOL REF: QUITO 33 Classified By: Ambassador Heather M. Hodges for Reasons 1.4 (b&d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Embassy and GOE officials met on May 15 to discuss plans for the USG's withdrawal from the Manta Forward Operating Location (FOL),to deliver a briefing and tour of the FOL's operations, and to deliver floor plans and drawings of the FOL's buildings and facilities. This was a continuation of previous bilateral meetings in advance of the FOL's closure. See septel for a report on a legislative delegation that visited the FOL on May 22. (End Summary.) BILATERAL WITH GOE TO DISCUSS TRANSITION OF FOL ¶2. (SBU) In this third bilateral meeting on the subject, Embassy officials met with members of the Ecuadorian Air Force (FAE),the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Government, the Coordinating Ministry of Internal and External Security and the National Council of Civil Aviation. FOL Administrator Lt. Col. Jared Curtis delivered a presentation that included a review of the construction and investment by the USG into the FOL, successes of the FOL in counter-narcotics, FOL community relations. Embassy participants included representatives of the Defense Attache Office, Military Group, and POLITICAL Section. ¶3. (C) Regarding the transition of the FOL to the FAE, Lt Col Curtis discussed the timeline of events as currently planned by the USG. Key milestones included an orientation to the FOL facilities, which the GOE asked to be conducted June 1 through 4, a ceremony marking the cessation of counter-narcotics flights and tribute to the FOL on July 17, cessation of USG funding of airfield utilities/provision of airfield maintenance services on July 31, cessation of USG support for fire-fighting support on August 1, and the handover of the FOL facilities on September 18. The GOE requested a copy of the planned transition timeline, but agreed that when discussing the timeline publicly, it was appropriate to mention the month and year of each specific event, but not disclose specific dates. This would allow for reasonable adjustments to the timeline as needed. ¶4. (C) Embassy officers said that the USG would be donating over 4,000 items to the GOE and to charitable organizations in Manabi province, in addition to the handover of installations to the FAE as defined under the bilateral agreement, but noted that the exact number and identification of items is still subject to change. Lt Col Curtis led a tour of FOL facilities, emphasizing what items would likely depart and what likely remain after the USG's exit from the FOL. ¶5. (C) GOE participants seemed generally impressed with the extensive installations located at the FOL, and also with the quality of construction and the professionalism of the operations. There was some visible tension between the FAE and the Airport Corporation of Manta (CORPAM),responsible for the administration of the Manta civilian airport, as CORPAM considered it unfair that the FAE be left with most of the items. Embassy officers clarified that the bilateral agreements require handover of FOL installations to the FAE. NEXT STEPS IN TRANSITION ¶6. (C) The GOE requested a list of equipment that has or will be removed that the GOE would need to replace in order to keep the Manta airport at an ICAO category 7 or 8, and expressed interest in purchasing fire-trucks. The GOE agreed to meet again in the last week of June, in order to plan and prepare for the July 17 FOL tribute ceremony. The Embassy is currently discussing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the transfer of the vehicles and the ambulance that we want to donate to organizations other than the FAE so as to avoid any assessment of import duties. Embassy officials will coordinate with the GOE on any request for purchase of fire equipment and continue to coordinate on the turnover of the FOL facilities. HODGES