Secretary Clinton's June 12, 2009 conversation

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 062142 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2012 TAGS: OVIP CLINTON HILLARY PREL PREF ETRD MARR SNAR, SENV, CO, EC SUBJECT: Secretary Clinton's June 12, 2009 conversation with Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Fander Falconi ¶1. Classified by WHA Assistant Secretary Thomas Shannon. Reason: 1.4 (d) ¶2. (U) 06-12-2009; 11:45 am; Washington D.C., United States. ¶3. (U) Participants: U.S. The Secretary Chris McMullen, WHA/DAS Ian Kelly, Press Spokesperson Jake Sullivan, Deputy Chief of Staff Les Johnston (Bureau Notetaker) Patsy Arizu (Interpreter) ECUADOR Foreign Minister Fander Falconi Minister Coordinator for Internal and External Security Miguel Carvajal Ambassador Luis Gallegos DCM Juan Carlos Castrillon Political Counselor Isabel Albornoz Marco Albuja, Legal Advisor to the Foreign Minister Lenyn Muela, Communications Advisor to the Foreign Minister ¶4. (C) SUMMARY. On June 12, 2009, the Secretary met with Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Fander Falconi, as well as Ecuadorian Coordinating Minister for Internal and External Security Miguel Carvajal. FM Falconi expressed a desire to broaden bilateral relations beyond counternarcotics and security matters. He suggested Ecuador and the United States use the mechanism of the already existing Bilateral Dialogue (BD) as a means for enhanced engagement. He proposed a new "Trade for Development" agreement between the United States and Ecuador, requested support for Ecuador's Yasuni environmental conservation program, and commented that recent difficulties in security cooperation could be overcome by a new cooperation agreement. Minister Carvajal briefed the Secretary on the state of illegally armed groups (IAGs) and refugees along Ecuador's border with Colombia. The Secretary expressed support for the BD as a means of enhancing bilateral relations and a venue to discuss the issues raised during the meeting. She urged the GOE to cooperate with Embassy Quito to reestablish cooperation in support of vetted police units. END SUMMARY. -------------- -------------- INVITATION FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA TO ATTEND PRESIDENT CORREA'S AUGUST 10 INAUGARATION -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) After welcoming the Ecuadorian delegation, Secretary Clinton told Minister Falconi that the United States sought a productive and constructive relationship with Ecuador. She asked for an open discussion in which Ecuador would outline its goals and expectations. She acknowledged the difficult relations of recent years and said that the USG hoped to build upon the Secretary's and the President's meetings with Ecuadorian officials in Trinidad and Tobago at the Summit of the Americas (SOA) in April. FM Falconi warmly responded that his delegation was pleased to meet the Secretary, that they came with an open and positive agenda, and that they brought greetings from President Correa. Falconi said he would like to formally invite President Obama to attend President Correa's swearing in ceremony on August ¶10. He noted Correa was recently reelected with 52 percent of the vote, and both the President and the Secretary would be welcome at the inauguration. -------------- -------------- A DESIRE TO BROADEN RELATIONS THROUGH THE BILATERAL DIALOGUE -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) Falconi said Ecuador would like to broaden the bilateral agenda with the United States by moving beyond what he characterized as an excessive focus on counternarcotics and security issues. He noted that a mechanism for such engagement already existed in the Bilateral Dialogue (BD) between both countries. Falconi stressed that development was a principal goal for the GOE, especially as President Correa was elected with a mandate to further economic development. He noted that sovereignty and control over Ecuador's territorial boundaries were also key elements of Ecuador's foreign policy. -------------- - GOE PROPOSES "TRADE FOR DEVELOPMENT" AGREEMENT -------------- - ¶7. (C) After acknowledging that 45 percent of Ecuadorian exports are to the United States, Falconi said the GOE sought a new trade policy with the United States. He noted Ecuador's exports currently entered the United States under the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA), which was linked to counternarcotics efforts, and was renewed for short time intervals such as one year. He suggested one item for discussion within the BD framework would be to extend the duration of ATPA benefits. He further suggested what he referred to as a new type of trade agreement with the United States that would be called a "Trade Agreement for Development" (TAD). [Note: the Ecuadorian delegation also provided a letter to the Secretary stating the GOE's interest in pursuing such a trade agreement with the United States. End Note.] Falconi briefly alluded to a discussion between President Obama and President Correa at the SOA in which the Ecuadorians mentioned a trade agreement with the United States would be of strategic importance. -------------- -------------- YASUNI INITIATIVE, SECURITY COOPERATION, MIGRANT ISSUES -------------- -------------- - ¶8. (C) Falconi commented on what he called tremendous opportunities for cooperation on environmental issues as well. He raised the GOE's Yasuni initiative, in which Ecuador would forgo oil development in the environmentally sensitive Yasuni Park in exchange for billions of dollars from the international community. He said preservation of this region is a priority for the GOE and that the government of Spain as well as the German parliament had shown an interest. He did not state it explicitly, but Falconi seemed to be seeking U.S. support for the Yasuni initiative. ¶9. (C) Falconi stated the United States and Ecuador enjoyed "magnificent cooperation" on security matters. Referring to the recent difficulties between the GOE and Embassy Quito over vetted police units, he said the GOE was working on an agreement with Post that met Ecuadorian constitutional and legislative obligations, was consistent with Ecuador's development plans, and was fully transparent. He said such an agreement would be the best way to "address the small problem earlier this year." ¶10. (C) Falconi commented on another GOE priority, migrant rights. Stating that 29 percent of Ecuador's population had departed the country since 1999 for the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Italy, Falconi suggested that "we could work jointly on the rights of migrants to be regularized." He again stressed that the Bilateral Dialogue would be an appropriate forum for this discussion, and urged that a date be set for the next meeting. -------------- -------------- SECRETARY EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR THE BILATERAL DIALOGUE AND URGES PROGRESS ON SPECIAL VETTED POLICE UNITS -------------- -------------- ¶11. (C) The Secretary responded that the number and depth of issues raised by Minister Falconi required another meeting of the BD. She said such matters as trade, security, and migration all called for special attention. She said she would like both sides to work towards a specific date for the next BD, but a date that provided adequate time to prepare properly for the next meeting. The Secretary said the GOE's TAD proposal was intriguing. She noted that the EU had pursued such trade agreements, and while the United States had never developed such an agreement, it was of interest. On the Yasuni Initiative, the Secretary responded that this was a very creative idea and suggested Ecuador consider presenting the concept at the upcoming climate change conference in Copenhagen as a place to seek credit and support for the program. ¶12. (C) The Secretary thanked the Ecuadorians for their hard work fighting narcotics trafficking along the northern border, as well as confronting the FARC and other IAGs. She said she was hopeful that both sides could reach an agreement on security cooperation that respects Ecuadorian sovereignty and brings our security forces closer. Referring to the recent dispute between the GOE and Embassy Quito over vetted police units, she said she hoped Ecuador would reach an agreement that would allow support for the special police units to continue. ¶13. (C) Returning to the BD, the Secretary said both sides should work to determine the subjects for the next BD meeting, observing: "We have a lot to talk about in our bilateral dialogue." She noted that she would pass on to President Obama the GOE's invitation to attend Correa's August 10 inauguration and that the United States would send a high level delegation that reflected the significance the United States placed on its relationship with Ecuador. -------------- -- MINISTER CARVAJAL BRIEFS ON THE NORTHERN BORDER -------------- -- ¶14. (C) After greeting the Secretary and expressing his admiration for both her and President Clinton, Minister Carvajal spoke about security matters. He stated the GOE is developing a security cooperation agreement with Embassy Quito it planned to complete within the next 30 days. This "protocol of procedures" would help address the difficulties that had arisen with respect to jointly vetted police units. Carvajal asserted that Ecuador maintained a vigilant fight against narcotics trafficking and had zero tolerance for illegal armed groups (IAGs) within Ecuador's borders. He said, "we are the victim of the internal conflict in Colombia." ¶15. (C) Carvajal provided the Secretary several maps of the northern border, and elaborated Ecuador's perspective of border issues. He highlighted the large presence of FARC and other IAGs along the border and within Colombia, and stressed the difficulties imposed on Ecuador by an estimated 130,000 Colombian refugees in northern Ecuador. He noted that the GOE was working with the international community, particularly the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),to register displaced Colombians and guarantee them their rights. He also contrasted Ecuador's 7,000 forces deployed along the border with what he said were significantly fewer numbers on the Colombian side. In answer to a question from the Secretary asking if the GOE considered Colombia to have too few troops on the border, Carvajal responded that, without a doubt, the Colombians lacked troops and did not have control of the border. He urged greater international cooperation and recognition for the problems Ecuador faced in this region. ¶16. (C) Regarding relations with Colombia, Carvajal said the problem was more than just the March 1, 2008 bombing incident that destroyed a FARC camp and killed FARC leader Raul Reyes. He said the Government of Colombia (GOC) falsely asserted links between the GOE and IAGs. He added that, despite a May 2008 agreement for the GOC and GOE to share actionable intelligence against IAGs in Ecuador, the GOE had received no information from the GOC, and this was "just a game." ¶17. (C) The Secretary thanked Minister Carvajal for his useful information and said both countries should discuss security matters with an eye towards seeing whether the United States might help with Ecuador's communications with Colombia on security-related issues. -------------- WRAP UP -------------- ¶18. (C) In answer to a question from the Secretary, Ambassador Gallegos noted that the Ecuadorian delegation had met with Congressman McGovern and other members of Congress, Dan Restrepo at the NSC, and representatives from several think tanks. Gallegos also suggested that President Obama invite President Correa to the United States. The Secretary concluded that both sides would work on the BD and include all the issues discussed in the meeting at the next BD event. CLINTON