(S/NF) ECUADOR MILITARY AND SECURITY TOPICS

S E C R E T STATE 040697 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2034 TAGS: PINR MCAP PGOV PREL EC SUBJECT: (S/NF) ECUADOR MILITARY AND SECURITY TOPICS (C-AL9-00754) REF: A. 09 QUITO 000103 ¶B. 08 QUITO 000331 ¶C. 08 QUITO ... id: 203788 date: 4/23/2009 14:48 refid: 09STATE40697 origin: Secretary of State classification: SECRET//NOFORN destination: 08QUITO1042|08QUITO331|08QUITO504|08QUITO929|09QUITO103|09QUITO109|09QUITO114 header: VZCZCXYZ0001 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHC #0697 1131506 ZNY SSSSS ZZH R 231448Z APR 09 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO AMEMBASSY QUITO 4148 -------------- header ends -------------- S E C R E T STATE 040697 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2034 TAGS: PINR MCAP PGOV PREL EC SUBJECT: (S/NF) ECUADOR MILITARY AND SECURITY TOPICS (C-AL9-00754) REF: A. 09 QUITO 000103 ¶B. 08 QUITO 000331 ¶C. 08 QUITO 000504 ¶D. 08 QUITO 001042 ¶E. 08 QUITO 000929 ¶F. 09 QUITO 000114 ¶G. 09 QUITO 000109 Classified By: SUZANNE MCCORMICK, DIR., INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C). ¶1. (S/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS GREATLY APPRECIATE ALL EFFORTS TO PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO ECUADORIAN SECURITY ISSUES. REPORTING HAS TIME AND AGAIN PROVED TO BE A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR UNDERSTANDING IMPORTANT SECURITY ISSUES, SUCH AS PRESIDENT CORREA'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MILITARY AND SECURITY FORCES, THE SITUATION ALONG THE NORTHERN BORDER, AND ECUADOR'S EFFORTS TO MODERNIZE ITS WEAPONS ARSENAL AND EXPAND ITS MILITARY TO MILITARY RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES. ANALYSTS HAVE USED REPORTING IN RECENT WRITTEN PRODUCTION AND ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON ADDITIONAL CURRENT AND LONG-TERM PRODUCTION ON THESE TOPICS. AS TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT, ANALYSTS WOULD READ WITH INTEREST ANY ADDITIONAL INSIGHT POST MAY HAVE INTO THE QUESTIONS BELOW, IF IT CAN BE ACQUIRED IN THE COURSE OF NORMAL DUTIES. MANY THANKS, AND REGARDS FROM WASHINGTON. ¶A. (S/NF) WHAT HAS BEEN THE MILITARY'S REACTION TO CORREA'S ELIMINATION OF MILITARY BENEFITS AND BUSINESSES? HOW HAS THE LOSS OF THE MILITARY COMPANIES AFFECTED THE BUDGET? WHAT PLANS DOES THE MILITARY HAVE TO COMPENSATE FOR THESE LOSSES? ¶B. (S/NF) IN LIGHT OF RECENT BUDGET CUTS, HOW WILL THE ARMED FORCES ADJUST THEIR PRIORITIES? WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE SUPER TUCANO SALE? IS THE MILITARY STILL SEEKING TO PURCHASE RADAR EQUIPMENT FROM CHINA? WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THIS DEAL? WHAT OTHER COUNTRIES IS THE GOVERNMENT LOOKING TO FOR WEAPONS PURCHASES AND WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THOSE AGREEMENTS? ¶C. (S/NF) HOW DO THE ARMED FORCES AND THE NATIONAL POLICE FEEL ABOUT THE DIMINISHING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE US? HOW WILL THIS IMPACT THEIR MISSIONS? DO THEY EXPECT LOW-LEVEL COOPERATION TO CONTINUE? ¶D. (S/NF) WHICH COUNTRIES IS ECUADOR TURNING TO FOR MILITARY ASSISTANCE AND COOPERATION? WHAT COUNTRIES ARE PROVIDING TRAINING TO THE ARMED FORCES AND WHAT DOES THIS TRAINING CONSIST OF? ¶E. (S/NF) WHAT IS THE FARC'S CURRENT STATUS ALONG THE BORDER? ¶F. (S/NF) WHAT OTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES ARE GOING ON IN THE BORDER REGION? WHICH GROUPS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE ACTIVITIES? IS THE FARC INVOLVED IN THESE ACTIVITIES AT ALL? WHAT IS THE MILITARY OR POLICE DOING ABOUT THESE ACTIVITIES? ¶2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-AL9-00754 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. CLINTON =======================CABLE ENDS============================