ECUADOR ON U.S. CANDIDACY FOR IMO COUNCIL

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000967 SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/T THOMAS S. JOHNSON LONDON FOR J. WHITTLESEY USCG FOR CG-52 AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS E.O. 12958: DECL: 2029/11/17 TAGS: AORC PREL IMO EWWT PHSA UK EC SUBJECT: ECUADOR ON U.S. CANDIDACY FOR IMO COUNCIL REF: STATE 117701; QUITO 945 CLASSIFIED BY: Andrew Chritton, Charge d'Affaires, State, EXEC; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (C) PolOff delivered Ref A points to MFA Multilateral Affairs Director General Lourdes Puma on November 16, following a previous Embassy demarche (Ref B). Puma said that Ecuador was aware that 11 countries were competing for the ten positions on the International Maritime Organization Council and that the USG had made significant contributions to the Council. Puma added that Ecuador would likely support the USG candidacy, and understood that while the USG did not trade votes, Ecuador would appreciate the USG's support for its candidacy for the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Council of Human Rights (UNCHR). Puma said that if she received confirmation on how Ecuador planned to vote, she would inform the Embassy. Post will report any additional information prior to the November 27 election. CHRITTON