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| Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04QUITO2198 | ECUADOR MOVING FORWARD ON COMBATING TIP [...] Summary. A State Department Trafficking in Persons (TIP) delegation visited Ecuador from July 30 to August 4. Their agenda included a series of meetings with high-level GOE officials (the Ministers of Government and Labor), a congresswoman, different units of the police, the MFA, and severa [...] |
2004-08-06 12:27:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL PGOV EC |
| 04QUITO2208 | GOE CONCERNED, YET UNWILLING TO ACT ON VENEZUELAN [...] (C) At an August 5 dinner hosted by Ecuadorian President Lucio Gutierrez in honor of visiting President Jimmy Carter, the Ambassador raised U.S. concerns (reftel) over the August 15 Venezuelan referendum. Gutierrez asserted that Ecuador wanted "real" democracy in Venezuela. The birthplace of [...] |
2004-08-09 17:49:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM KPAO PGOV PREL EC VE |
| 04QUITO2235 | ECUADOR'S RAIDS AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS [...] Summary. The police in Ecuador have conducted 75 raids (compared to five required in the action plan) aimed at eradicating trafficking in persons (TIP) and focusing on the commercial sexual exploitation of minors. Minors were found in 25 raids and typically were released to family members. [...] |
2004-08-11 22:05:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2251 | PARTY POSTURING PROMPTS BUCARAM RETURN RUMORS [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Lucio Gutierrez's recent comments favoring the return of exiled former President Abdala Bucaram have ignited a political firestorm in Ecuador, with leading opposition parties promising that impeachment proceedings would shortly follow. Bucaram, whom Congress removed in [...] |
2004-08-13 16:41:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM KCOR PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2252 | ECUADOR'S TIP CZAR GOES TO THE PRESS [...] Summary. Ecuador's TIP Coordinator, the Minister of Government Baca, cooperated with the country's largest newspaper for a front-page article recognizing the TIP problem and laying out a plan to combat it, including penal code reforms. The reforms are a significant step forward and comply w [...] |
2004-08-13 16:43:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2268 | FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER DISCUSSES GALAPAGOS [...] Summary: At dinner on August 5, former President Jimmy Carter discussed with President Lucio Gutierrez the importance of protection of the Galapagos Islands. Gutierrez also expressed concern for the issue. Carter suggested that the Carter Center may host a conference on the protection of th [...] |
2004-08-17 20:32:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV EFIS EC |
| 04QUITO2287 | ECUADOR LIKELY TO HELP ON NAM RESOLUTION [...] PolCouns provided reftel points to Amb. Fernando Flores Macias, DirGen for Multilateral Affairs, on August 17. Flores told PolCouns on August 18 that Ecuador's delegation to the NAM meeting in Durban, led by Vice Minister Edwin Johnson, will determine the GoE position on this issue. He pledg [...] |
2004-08-19 20:29:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | KNNP PREL PARM MNUC |
| 04QUITO2301 | BREAKFAST WITH GUTIERREZ: ECONOMIC ISSUES [...] (SBU) Summary: In a breakfast meeting on August 18, President Gutierrez told the Ambassador that Ecuador will resolve its business disputes with the U.S. He expressed appreciation to the U.S. for its economic assistance, stated that he had instructed Minister of Trade Ivonne Baki to work mo [...] |
2004-08-20 16:41:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV EAID SENV EC |
| 04QUITO2303 | AMBASSADOR'S TOUR D'HORIZON WITH PRES. GUTIERREZ [...] (C) Summary: In a private breakfast meeting with the Ambassador and DCM on August 18 at the National Palace, President Lucio Gutierrez discussed upcoming municipal elections, his Cabinet, and requested additional U.S. aid for the social sector. The Ambassador encouraged free and fair electio [...] |
2004-08-20 16:41:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2327 | THE PROCURADOR STRIKES BACK AT OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM [...] (U) See paragraph 11 for an action request. 2. (C) Summary. Ecuador's Procurador (Solicitor General) may be seeking to terminate Occidental Petroleum's (Oxy) Block 15 participation contract for alleged violations of the hydrocarbon law. If the allegations are upheld, Oxy's Block 15 contr [...] |
2004-08-24 21:01:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD EPET ECON EC |
| 04QUITO2333 | ECUADOR'S ECONOMIC PROGRAM [...] (SBU) Summary: Minister of Economy and Finances Mauricio Yepez told Ambassador on August 23 that the GOE had covered its financing needs for 2004 and is now planning for 2005. The GOE would carry out significant reforms this fall, including ending the subsidy of household gas and a reform of [...] |
2004-08-24 22:45:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN ECON ENRG EC |
| 04QUITO2334 | ECUADOR'S INDIGENOUS: QUIET BUT CONFIDENT [...] (SBU) Summary: Battered by its early association with an unpopular government it helped install, bruised by open internal divisions, and hurt by a humiliatingly low turnout in fizzled national protests in June, Ecuadorian indigenous leaders might be expected to have low electoral expectations [...] |
2004-08-24 22:51:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM EC |
| 04QUITO2362 | AMB. SIV PROMOTES UNGA AGENDA [...] Summary: During a visit to Quito on August 21-22, U.S. Representative to ECOSOC Ambassador Sichan Siv raised UNGA demarche points (Ref A) and other multilateral issues with Amb. Fernando Flores Macias, DirGen for Multilateral Affairs. Ambassador Siv also expressed disappointment with Ecuador [...] |
2004-08-26 12:39:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL ECON PHUM KDEM AORC EC UNGA UN |
| 04QUITO2365 | NO WORD FROM ECUADOR ON TEDS CHANGES [...] No summary [...] |
2004-08-26 14:29:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIS ETRD SENV EC OES |
| 04QUITO2366 | ECUADOR'S RESPONSE TO ICAO ASSEMBLY DEMARCHE [...] No summary [...] |
2004-08-26 14:30:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR AORC EC ICAO |
| 04QUITO2380 | PROGRESS ON OCCIDENTAL CASE [...] (SBU) Summary. Occidental Petroleum (Oxy) and Embassy efforts to tone down the rhetoric and reach an amicable resolution with the GOE are starting to pay dividends. Oxy had a productive meeting with the Procurador (Solicitor General). President Gutierrez has selected a commission, comprised [...] |
2004-08-27 17:43:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ETRD ECON EC |
| 04QUITO2382 | ECUADORIAN ARMS, MUNITIONS OFFERED FOR DESTRUCTION [...] In response to the Embassy's offer to include Ecuador in the State Department's Small Arms/Light Weapons (SALW) destruction program, Ecuador's service chiefs recently provided lists of weapons and ammunition they wish to destroy. Ecuador's joint command later blessed the inventory. Post bel [...] |
2004-08-27 19:59:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM MASS MOPS MARR PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2399 | FAWNING THRONGS GREET LULA IN QUITO [...] (C) SUMMARY: Cheering crowds met Brazilian President Lula da Silva at every stop during his August 24-25 visit to Quito. Pre-arrival press was universally positive, portraying the ex-labor leader as a third-world savior and counterweight to the United States. Concurrently, editorials ravag [...] |
2004-08-30 18:03:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ETRD ECON EFIN EC BR UN |
| 04QUITO2418 | OXY BRINGS IN THE BIG GUNS - EMBASSY KEEPS FIRING [...] (U) Summary. Occidental Petroleum (Oxy) brought a team of lawyers and executives to Ecuador to discuss the GOE's claims that Oxy failed to comply with the hydrocarbon law in the transfer of 40% share of its Block 15 interest to Canadian oil company EnCana. Oxy is confident that it is on sol [...] |
2004-09-02 22:01:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ETRD ECON EC |
| 04QUITO2446 | PRESIDENT GUTIERREZ' LATEST POLITICAL BLUNDER [...] (C) Summary: President Gutierrez urgently invited the Ambassador to a private breakfast on September 7 to discuss fallout from his recent visit to Panama. There, he had met with disgraced former president Abdala Bucaram, setting off a political firestorm at home. After hearing the President's e [...] |
2004-09-08 13:18:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ELAB EC |
| 04QUITO2447 | ECUADOR CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD ON TRAFFICKING [...] (U) Summary. Ecuador continues to push ahead in its fight against trafficking in persons (TIP). The Embassy TIP working group met on September 1 to review GOE and USG efforts to combat TIP since the August 18th Presidential decree (Reftel). Raids on brothels continued, and the GOE is giving [...] |
2004-09-08 16:30:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2448 | ECUADOR CHILD LABOR UPDATE [...] (U) Summary. Child labor remains a major problem in Ecuador. However, the GoE, NGOs and other institutions are taking steps to combat worst forms of child labor in Ecuador. More clearly needs to be done, particularly in the enforcement of child labor laws and the rehabilitation of child la [...] |
2004-09-08 17:00:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EIND ELAB ETRD PHUM SOCI EC |
| 04QUITO2449 | PREPARING FOR ECUADORIAN ELECTIONS OCTOBER [...] (SBU) Summary: Ecuador's upcoming local elections are an indirect test of the Gutierrez Administration's strength (it is widely expected to fail that test) and, more importantly, an opportunity for Ecuadorian voters to renew their faith in the democratic process. President Gutierrez' Patriot [...] |
2004-09-08 17:27:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM KCOR PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2459 | ECUADOR: POLITICAL INSTABILITY RISING [...] (C) Summary: After a hiatus of three months, and with local elections looming in October, the political temperature here is rising, fueling rumors of political instability. While we take these recurrent rumors with a grain of salt, opposition politicians blame President Gutierrez' political [...] |
2004-09-09 22:33:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2462 | OXY: GOE TAKES A SERIOUS WRONG TURN [...] (U) See action request in paragraph 12. 2. (C) Summary. The GOE is proceeding with the contract nullification process (caducidad) against Occidental Petroleum (Oxy), potentially triggering the nationalization of Oxy's assets in Ecuador. Presidential Legal Advisor Carlos Larrea acknowledge [...] |
2004-09-10 18:42:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ETRD ECON EC |
| 04QUITO2464 | GALAPAGOS PARK LEADERSHIP POTENTIALLY DESTABILIZED [...] (U)Summary: The status of the leadership of the Galapagos National Park (GNP) is uncertain, with Park Director Edwin Naula facing possible dismissal. There are political motives behind the change and we will continue to press for stability. The US Mission has expressed concern at the highes [...] |
2004-09-10 19:50:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV EAID ECON EFIS ETRD PGOV PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2480 | LABOR DELEGATION CONSULTATIONS IN ECUADOR [...] (U) Summary. During a September 1-3 visit to Ecuador, an interagency labor delegation met with GoE officials, labor and business representatives and Ecuadorian civil society representatives, fulfilling the Trade Promotion Authority mandate to consult on labor law and practice and begin the f [...] |
2004-09-13 20:23:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB PGOV EC |
| 04QUITO2497 | ECUADOR: POLITICAL STABILITY AND USG SUPPORT [...] (S) Summary: With President Gutierrez increasingly isolated and weakened, his Cabinet divided and Congress hopelessly fragmented, rumors continue to swirl about a constitutional or extra-constitutional change in the Presidency. In this context we have reviewed how political instability here [...] |
2004-09-14 22:44:00 | Embassy Quito | SECRET | PGOV PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2499 | ECUADOR EVASIVE OVER NEW YORK BOLTON MEETING [...] (U) In response to Reftel, the Embassy August 20 contacted the Ecuadorian MFA's Article 98 coordinator, attorney Renan Mosquera, to seek a New York meeting between Foreign Minister Patricio Zuquilanda and Under Secretary John Bolton. Customary in the overly formal MFA, Mosquera requested the [...] |
2004-09-15 15:06:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EC KICC UNGA |
| 04QUITO2500 | FIGHTING ELECTORAL FRAUD, MISCOUNTS WITH TECHNOLOGY [...] SUMMARY: Ecuador's byzantine electoral process demands newspaper-sized ballots, seven-hour counts, and spawns unacceptable numbers of nullified votes. Worse, its complexity raises the possibility of electoral fraud. Ecuador's supreme electoral authority sees a partial solution in increased [...] |
2004-09-15 16:02:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | KDEM PGOV PREL PHUM EC |
| 04QUITO2502 | UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 QUITO 002502 [...] No summary [...] |
2004-09-15 17:02:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | NOTAG |
| 04QUITO2509 | OXY: THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM - OR PROGRESS? [...] (C) Summary. Occidental Petroleum's (Oxy) meetings in the US and USG efforts have provided a temporary calm in the contract nullification process. Oxy has still not been officially notified of its alleged violations of the hydrocarbon law, thus the statutory time period for it to respond has [...] |
2004-09-16 14:47:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ETRD ECON EC |
| 04QUITO2519 | ECUADOR CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD ON TIP [...] Summary. Ecuador continues its strong fight against trafficking in persons (TIP), commercial sexual exploitation of minors (CSEM), and child pornography and has made additional progress since the last update. Congress is reviewing penal code reforms to change the definition of a minor to a ch [...] |
2004-09-16 20:07:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2533 | MINISTER OF LABOR SHARES CONCERNS ON CHILD LABOR [...] (U) Summary. At a breakfast meeting at the Ambassador's residence on September 15, the Ambassador emphasized to MOL Raul Izurieta the importance of combating child labor and inquired into current MOL efforts to do so. Izurieta described efforts the Ministry is already taking towards elimina [...] |
2004-09-17 18:55:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB PGOV EC |
| 04QUITO2534 | MOL PROMISES SUBCONTRACTING DECREE THIS WEEK [...] (SBU) Summary. At breakfast with the Ambassador September 15, Minister of Labor Raul Izurieta said the President would sign the oft delayed labor decree on subcontracting by September 17. On September 14, union leaders told PolOff they were worried the decree would not sufficiently limit su [...] |
2004-09-17 18:56:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB PGOV EC |
| 04QUITO2550 | GALAPAGOS NATIONAL PARK WORKERS CONTINUE TO STRIKE [...] (U) Summary. On September 10, the Minister of the Environment (MOE) replaced the Galapagos National Park (GNP) Director. In protest, the employees of the GNP went on strike. The strike began peacefully and the strikers initially promised not to interrupt tourist operations if their demands [...] |
2004-09-20 23:06:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID EC ECON EFIS ETRD PGOV PREL SENV |
| 04QUITO2552 | FEW U.S.-MANUFACTURED LAND MINES IN ECUADOR [...] In response to Reftel, Poloff September 20 contacted Guillermo Leal, chief of the OAS Humanitarian Demining (HD) mission in Ecuador. Leal noted the only U.S.-produced land mine found in Ecuador was the M18A1 Claymore device. The GoE had destroyed seven in-stock Claymores in 2001, Leal recal [...] |
2004-09-21 13:31:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | KHDP PREL PGOV EC PE |
| 04QUITO2571 | ECUADOR COMMITED TO USG TIP RECOMMENDATIONS [...] PolOff delivered reftel talking points including elements of a USG-supported action plan to combat TIP, to Carlos Jativa, the Minister of Government Raul Baca's assistant, on September 16. In a follow-up meeting with PolOff on September 20, Baca and Jativa concurred with the Tier 2 Watch List [...] |
2004-09-22 16:01:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2578 | ECUADORIAN ELECTIONS UPDATE [...] (U) Summary: With less than a month remaining before Ecuador's October 17 elections, there remain several items of concern which, left unresolved, could prejudice a clean and orderly vote. The Embassy will continue to work with electoral authorities to encourage resolution of these issues. [...] |
2004-09-23 17:38:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM KCOR PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2588 | MIXED VIEWS FROM INDIGENOUS ON FREE TRADE [...] Summary. Indigenous leaders are not all opposed to a Free Trade Agreement (FTA); however, there is mounting social opposition from some indigenous organizations and unions. Starting October 1, various social groups will try to obtain one million signatures to demand a referendum on whether th [...] |
2004-09-24 15:59:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV ETRD EC |
| 04QUITO2592 | BLUE LANTERN PROGRAM ANNUAL UPDATE [...] In response to Ref A, Post provides the following information on its Blue Lantern program: -- Principal Point of Contact: Political Officer Gregory Macris -- Telephone: 593-2-256-2890, ext 4409 -- Fax: 593-2-254-0712 -- Email: macrisgp@state.gov (unclass); macrisgp@state.sgov.gov [...] |
2004-09-24 15:59:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | KOMC KSEP ETTC EC |
| 04QUITO2594 | ECUADOR ELECTIONS: QUITO/PICHINCHA RACES [...] (SBU) Summary: With 19% of the national vote, the electoral battle for Pichincha province, which includes the capital of Quito (itself 15% of the national vote), is a key test of the Democratic Left's (ID) strength. The Quito mayor race overshadows the Pichincha provincial prefect race in n [...] |
2004-09-24 18:28:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2595 | TIP IN ECUADOR: TRAINING, RAIDS, AND THE ABA'S [...] (U) Summary. The International Labor Organization (ILO) and Ecuadorian police began their joint training series on September 23 to teach the police about commercial sexual exploitation of minors (CSEM). The police conducted 25 raids from September 3 to 8 and rescued 30 minors. The American [...] |
2004-09-24 19:15:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2598 | ELECTIONS, NOT GOVERNANCE, DRIVING GUTIERREZ [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Lucio Gutierrez, consumed with improving his Patriotic Society Party's performance in Ecuador's October 17 local elections, is pressuring Cabinet officials to adopt populist, poorly conceived economic measures designed to garner votes. Should the PSP fare poorly in Oc [...] |
2004-09-24 19:45:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2599 | NEW GALAPAGOS PARK DIRECTOR LITERALLY FIGHTS HIS [...] Summary. On September 22, a group of local fishermen, who have long been at odds with the park leadership over environmental regulations, stormed the office of the GNP headquarters in Santa Cruz and helped Fausto Cepeda, the newly appointed director, install himself as park director. The vio [...] |
2004-09-24 19:51:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID EC ECON EFIS ETRD PGOV PREL SENV |
| 04QUITO2602 | ECUADOR SENDING ENGINEERS, TROOPS TO HAITI [...] The Government of Ecuador has directed that EC Army engineers and soldiers travel to Haiti to participate in UN-directed peacekeeping (PKO) operations and natural disaster (hurricane) relief. Embassy officials learned September 23 that the first Ecuadorian deployment will include 66 combat e [...] |
2004-09-24 20:16:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | MOPS MARR PREL SMIG EC HA UN |
| 04QUITO2608 | ELECTORAL TRAINING EFFORT NOT WITHOUT HICCUPS [...] SUMMARY: A successful October 17 vote depends partly on the 275,000 Ecuadorians manning the polls election day. Training this army is a Herculean task falling to Ecuador's Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE); $400,000 in USG assistance, channeled through international electoral NGO CAPEL, bolste [...] |
2004-09-28 19:18:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | KDEM PGOV EC |
| 04QUITO2612 | ELECTION NO THREAT TO FOL IN MANTA [...] (SBU) Summary: A pre-electoral visit to the city of Manta and Manabi provincial capital Portoviejo confirmed that the incumbent mayor of Manta, who has been largely supportive of the USG presence at the Forward Operating Location (FOL), is likely to be re-elected in local elections on October [...] |
2004-09-28 22:16:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2613 | TIDE TURNING IN OXY'S FAVOR BUT A LONG WAY TO GO [...] (C) Summary. The efforts of Occidental Petroleum (Oxy) and the Mission are gathering momentum in blunting misperceptions raised by the Procurador's (solicitor general equivalent) allegations against Oxy. Business chambers, financial analysts and GOE officials are coming to understand what Ec [...] |
2004-09-28 23:05:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ETRD ECON PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2614 | MINISTER OF THE ENVIRONMENT ANNOUNCES INITIATIVE [...] Summary. The Minister of the Environment (MOE), Fabian Valdivieso, announced to the press on September 27 that Fausto Cepeda had been replaced as Galapagos National Park (GNP) Director by GNP employee Victor Carrion. The MOE will form a commission to oversee any future selections of the GNP [...] |
2004-09-28 23:35:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID EC ECON EFIS ETRD PGOV PREL SENV |
| 04QUITO2642 | ECUADOR LABOR UPDATE [...] (U) Summary. Following are labor-related developments of interest: --MOL to Consult Unions on Subcontracting Decree (para. 2) --Rules Proposed for National Labor Council (3) --MOL Computers for Child Labor Inspectors (5) --National Campaign to Eliminate Child Labor in Trash Sector (8) -- [...] |
2004-09-30 20:38:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB PGOV EC |
| 04QUITO2651 | 59TH UNGA: ECUADOR SUPPORTIVE ON FIRST COMMITTEE [...] (SBU) We provided talking points and text of U.S. draft UNFC improvement resolution to Amb. Julio Prado, MFA U/S for Multilateral Affairs on September 29. On September 30, Prado told PolCouns that the GoE is eager to participate in dialogue through our respective UN missions in New York on t [...] |
2004-10-01 16:30:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AORC PARM PREL |
| 04QUITO2655 | ECUADORIAN VFM ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND ALADI [...] (SBU) Summary: Perhaps to signal his willingness to act as a U.S. ally in his new position on the UN Human Rights Commission, FM Edwin Johnson expressed concern to DCM about Venezuelan and Cuban diplomatic activities in Ecuador and the politicization of the Latin American Integration Associati [...] |
2004-10-01 19:22:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM AORC PREL PGOV EC |
| 04QUITO2680 | ECUADORIAN ELECTIONS UPDATE #2 [...] (SBU) Summary: This cable provides an update of developments related to the upcoming October 17 provincial and local elections. Most procedural issues are moving toward resolution, the OAS has confirmed an electoral observation mission which Embassy volunteers will participate in, and the S [...] |
2004-10-05 15:55:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM KCOR PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2690 | PRESIDENT SIGNS SUBCONTRACTING DECREE [...] Minister of Labor Raul Izurieta informed LabOff on October 5 that the President had signed the long-promised subcontracting decree (Executive Decree #2166) late on October 4. The decree will be published in the official register next week, he said. After the decree is published, the GoE wil [...] |
2004-10-05 21:43:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB PGOV EC |
| 04QUITO2702 | MAYOR'S RACE A TOSS-UP IN ECUADOR'S THIRD CITY [...] Summary. The Cuenca mayoral race is too close to call between two strong candidates, Fernando Cordero (New City-Pachakutik alliance), the incumbent, and Marcelo Cabrera (Democratic Left), recently the provincial prefect of Azuay. Meanwhile, Xavier Munoz, of Popular Democracy is the clear fro [...] |
2004-10-06 21:01:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2704 | ECUADOR TRYING TO STABILIZE GALAPAGOS PARK [...] Summary. The Minister of the Environment, Fabian Valdivieso, is attempting to change the process for selecting directors of the Galapagos National Park (GNP), hoping that an independent procedure will purge politics from this position and stabilize park management. The Minister proposes hiri [...] |
2004-10-07 13:34:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID EC ECON EFIS ETRD PGOV PREL SENV |
| 04QUITO2723 | ELECTIONS IN ECUADOR: THE ROLE OF THE MILITARY [...] This cable is an update of Ref B, transmitted in September 2002, just prior to Ecuador's most recent national elections. 2. SUMMARY: Although soldiers, sailors and airmen (and police) cannot vote, the military nonetheless will play a prominent part in Ecuador's October 17 local elections [...] |
2004-10-08 21:07:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | KDEM MOPS PGOV PHUM EC |
| 04QUITO2724 | EMBASSY ANALYSIS OF SUBCONTRACTING DECREE [...] Summary: President Gutierrez signed Executive Decree 2166 regulating subcontracting (Reftel) on October 5, which will be published in the Official Register on October 12. While several articles in the decree differ from the version Minister of Labor Raul Izurieta originally gave us, we belie [...] |
2004-10-08 21:20:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB PGOV EC |
| 04QUITO2739 | POLITICAL LANDSCAPE CHANGING IN ESMERALDAS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: A pre-election visit to Esmeraldas province suggests that incumbent Esmeraldas Mayor Ernesto Estupinan's rise in political popularity has triggered initial changes to the political landscape in this coastal border region. Estupinan, a member of the leftist Popular Democratic M [...] |
2004-10-13 17:04:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2740 | HOW FREE IS THE PRESS IN ECUADOR? [...] Summary. Continuing a longstanding battle with the press (Reftel), President Gutirrez recently called for a judicial investigation of a prominent radio director for possible seditious remarks in suggesting the president had received campaign contributions from Colombia's FARC in the 2000 pre [...] |
2004-10-13 17:46:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV ECON EC |
| 04QUITO2759 | FINAL ECUADORIAN ELECTIONS UPDATE [...] (U) Summary: This cable provides information about the upcoming October 17 provincial/local elections, their significance, a summary of Embassy involvement in the OAS electoral observation mission, information on how to reach us on election day, suggested press guidance, and a synopsis of re [...] |
2004-10-14 20:51:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM KCOR PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2761 | MFA OFFERS VOTE SWAP ON U.S. ICTY NOMINEE [...] In response to Reftel, the Embassy October 12 delivered to the Ecuadorian foreign ministry a non-paper and CV in support of Judge Theodor Meron, the USG's candidate for re-election to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. In a follow-up meeting October 14, Luis Arella [...] |
2004-10-15 12:41:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS PHUM EC |
| 04QUITO2762 | ECUADOR TO SUPPORT CUBAN UNGA RESOLUTION [...] (U) In response to Reftel, the Embassy October 7 delivered pro-embargo, anti-resolution talking points to the Ecuadorian foreign ministry. In a follow-up meeting October 14 with MFA Director General for Multilateral Policy Miguel Mendes, Poloff emphasized three points: the U.S. embargo was [...] |
2004-10-15 14:42:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL ETRD EC |
| 04QUITO2769 | EMBASSY VIEWS ON GOE LABOR DECREE [...] (SBU) Summary: The publication on October 14 of the presidential decree on subcontracting is an important if not ideal step forward that comes at some political cost to President Gutierrez and Labor Minister Raul Izurieta. Ecuadorian and U.S. private sector interests are already attacking th [...] |
2004-10-18 15:10:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB PGOV EC |
| 04QUITO2771 | PRELIMINARY ECUADORIAN ELECTION RESULTS, [...] (SBU) Summary: Ecuadorian voters went to the polls to elect provincial and municipal officials on October 17 in elections the OAS characterized publicly as "free and transparent." Some irregularities were reported but in most polling places voting proceeded relatively smoothly. Preliminary [...] |
2004-10-18 19:34:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM KCOR PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2773 | ECUADOR TIP UPDATE [...] Summary. Ecuadorian police conducted nearly 50 raids September 16 - 30 and found 55 minors suspected as victims of trafficking in persons (TIP). USAID signed a $300,000 agreement with Geneva Global to begin a small grants program aimed at prevention, prosecution and protection of TIP. Press [...] |
2004-10-18 21:10:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2810 | RETURN TO NORMALCY: PRESIDENT SURVIVES ANOTHER DAY [...] (C) Minutes after local elections concluded on October 17, Ecuador's opposition returned to its game of political "chicken," calling for the impeachment of President Gutierrez for illegal use of public funds for campaign purposes. The judiciary, for its part, issued what some charaterize as a [...] |
2004-10-22 12:04:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2861 | ECUADOR'S TIP LEGISLATION AND CONFERENCE [...] (U) Summary. Ecuador took additional steps forward in combating Trafficking in Persons (TIP) over the past week. Congress debated the draft of anti-TIP legislation that criminalizes TIP, sexual tourism, child pornography, and child prostitution. On October 22, the MFA and United Nations co-s [...] |
2004-10-27 13:48:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2868 | GUTIERREZ CANCELS NEW YORK TRIP [...] Summary. On October 27, President Gutierrez told the Ambassador he had canceled his planned early November trip to New York in order to work in Ecuador on judicial reform projects and programs to spur economic growth. Gutierrez hopes the press will portray his decision as a need to focus on [...] |
2004-10-27 22:11:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2869 | "POWER-BLINDED" LFC DRIVES IMPEACHMENT PUSH [...] (C) SUMMARY: Leon Febres-Cordero (LFC), the cantankerous leader of Ecuador's Social Christian Party (PSC), is determined to destroy President Lucio Gutierrez by any means possible, according to two thoughtful PSC legislators. Brothers Luis Fernando Torres and Carlos Torres, the former the he [...] |
2004-10-27 23:09:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM KCOR PREL EC |
| 04QUITO2879 | UNCLAS QUITO 002879 [...] No summary [...] |
2004-10-29 20:45:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | NOTAG |
| 04QUITO2886 | EMBASSY PUSHING STABILITY MESSAGE HARD [...] SUMMARY: Reftels outline the current political quicksand enveloping GoE President Lucio Gutierrez. Believing further instability runs counter to Ecuadorian and U.S. interests, the Embassy is immersed in an outreach campaign to bolster rank-and-file support for constitutional democracy and th [...] |
2004-10-29 21:32:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL KDEM EC |
| 04QUITO2891 | ECUADORIAN, CHILEAN FM'S TALK BORDERS, TRADE [...] Summary. Chilean Foreign Minister Ignacio Walker met with Ecuadorian officials in Quito on October 28. In a subsequent joint declaration, the countries committed to begin FTA negotiations in 2004, respect existing international treaties (in reference to Chile's maritime disagreements with P [...] |
2004-10-29 22:16:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV ECON ETRD EC CH |
| 04QUITO2922 | MOL CONSIDERS LABOR REFORM; UNIONS URGE RESIGNATION [...] (SBU) Summary: Meeting in Guayaquil with USTR and Department of State officials, two key Ecuadorian labor leaders stated they will challenge the recently published executive decree on subcontracting as unconstitutional, and also repeated a call for Minister of Labor Raul Izurieta's removal f [...] |
2004-11-05 17:39:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB PGOV EC |
| 04QUITO2923 | ECUADOR BANS EXPORT OF SHARK FINS [...] Summary. President Gutierrez has issued a decree banning the export of shark fins. The ban applies to all shark fins, whether they are intentionally harvested or are the result of bi-catch. Despite having been consulted prior to the decree's issuance, a local fishing group is asking Preside [...] |
2004-11-05 17:51:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID EC ECON EFIS ETRD PGOV PREL SENV |
| 04QUITO2927 | CONGRATULATORY LETTER FROM PRESIDENT GUTIERREZ TO [...] Embassy received a congratulatory letter from President Gutierrez to President Bush dated November 2 on November 4 under a cover letter from acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Edwin Johnson. 2. Text of Letter from President Gutierrez: Your excellency: On behalf of the Ecuadorian peop [...] |
2004-11-05 19:43:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV OPDC EC |
| 04QUITO2929 | PRESIDENT GUTIERREZ CONFIDENT IN FACE OF [...] (C) Summary: The GoE reacted calmly to the initiation of impeachment proceedings against President Gutierrez by Congress on November 4. The Ambassador spoke with President Gutierrez by telephone on November 4 and on the margins of an unrelated event on November 5. Gutierrez thanked the USG [...] |
2004-11-05 21:15:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MARR EC |
| 04QUITO2941 | MINISTER OF FINANCE CONFIDENT OF STABILITY [...] (C) Summary: Minister of Finance Yepez believes the Gutierrez regime can make it through the current crisis, but remains handicapped by bad advisors at the top. The GOE is maintaining its responsible fiscal policy and continues to work on plans to eliminate the gas subsidy. End Summary. [...] |
2004-11-08 22:14:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON PGOV EC |
| 04QUITO2943 | TEXTILES AND APPAREL EMPLOYMENT AND PRODUCTION IN [...] Summary. Reftel requests information on the textile and apparel sectors in Ecuador. Statistical information, particularly with respect to employment information, is highly unreliable in Ecuador. In general, textile production increases appear to have outpaced overall industrial production [...] |
2004-11-09 20:51:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | KTEX ECON ETRD EC |
| 04QUITO2955 | OPPOSITION FALLS SHORT ON FIRST IMPEACHMENT VOTE; [...] (C) Summary: The pro-impeachment opposition on November 9 tried and twice failed to create a special Congressional committee to consider impeachment grounds against President Lucio Gutierrez, effectively stymieing impeachment efforts at an early stage. The opposition came up short of taking [...] |
2004-11-10 22:03:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MARR EC |
| 04QUITO2980 | TIER 2 WATCH LIST INTERIM ASSESSMENT [...] Summary. Ecuador has taken significant steps since June to combat trafficking in persons (TIP). The government increased public awareness of the problem, reached out to source and destination countries, and established a national plan. The GOE has cooperated with the International Labor Or [...] |
2004-11-12 19:07:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV PREL EC |
| 04QUITO3027 | GOVERNMENT MINISTER POLITICAL LIGHTING ROD, [...] (C) Summary: Government Minister Jaime Damerval has courted controversy since taking office on November 8, recently suggesting that the GoE convoke a referendum on whether to dissolve Congress to promote constitutional reforms. In a private meeting with the DCM on November 15, Damerval back [...] |
2004-11-17 21:51:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KCRM PINR EC |
| 04QUITO3028 | RENEWING THE ARTICLE 98 PUSH [...] (C) SUMMARY: Article 98 negotiations in Ecuador have stagnated of late. Two factors are to blame: continued push-back from the Embassy's prime interlocutors, the Foreign Ministry and Congress, and the Gutierrez government's focus on self-preservation in the face of impeachment proceedings. [...] |
2004-11-17 21:51:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MOPS PREL EC KICC |
| 04QUITO3053 | PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES SEEK USG HELP ON GOE [...] See action request paragraph 7. 2. Summary. Econ and FCS met November 19 with representatives from Bristol Meyers and Pfizer. The pharmaceutical representatives complained that the GOE is trying to exert further control over drug prices and company profits. This latest initiative by the [...] |
2004-11-22 18:04:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD KIPR EFIN EC |
| 04QUITO3081 | GOE PRESSES ITS LUCK -- NEXT STEPS ON STABILITY [...] (C) Summary: A concerted USG effort to promote political stability contributed to the lessening of political tension over impeachment, and will continue to be important in the aftermath. Although the situation has calmed somewhat since the failure of an opposition initiative to impeach Presi [...] |
2004-11-24 20:32:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MARR EC |
| 04QUITO3099 | NOVEMBER TIP UPDATE [...] Summary: This cable reports significant anti-TIP developments since our interim TIP report (Ref A). USAID and Geneva Global will mount six new projects to combat TIP (Trafficking in Persons) by the end of the year. We recently met with two organizations who provide services to children and [...] |
2004-11-26 14:32:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV PREL EC |
| 04QUITO3102 | FOX VISIT PROMOTES TRADE, INVESTMENT, & [...] Summary: In a brief visit to Quito on November 22-23, Mexican President Vicente Fox sought increased bilateral investment and trade. Presidents Fox and Gutierrez discussed issues of bilateral interest, including commitments to facilitate visa issuance, negotiate an extradition treaty, impro [...] |
2004-11-26 20:12:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL EC |
| 04QUITO3103 | ARTICLE 98 BACK IN HEADLINES, POST PRESSES CASE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Recent public comments from high-level USG visitors and the Ambassador have put Article 98 back in play in Ecuador. Major newspapers and radio/TV outlets have highlighted our efforts, as well as GoE Foreign Minister Patricio Zuquilanda's November 23 claim that the MFA continues [...] |
2004-11-26 20:24:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | MASS PREL PGOV EC KICC |
| 04QUITO3108 | PRO-GOVT CONGRESSIONAL MAJORITY FLEXES MUSCLES [...] Summary: In a marathon session November 25, the new, pro-government legislative majority bypassed President of Congress Guillermo Landazuri's programmed agenda and elected Jorge Montero second vice president. It then replaced the members of the Constitutional Tribunal (TC) and the Supreme E [...] |
2004-11-26 22:11:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL EC |
| 04QUITO3115 | DONORS LOSING PATIENCE WITH MANAGEMENT OF GALAPAGOS [...] Summary. Ecuador continues to take two steps backward for each step forward in the Galapagos. President Gutierrez signed a decree in October banning the export of shark fins from Ecuador (Reftel A), to promote conservation. The Minister of the Environment, Fabian Valdivieso, however, repla [...] |
2004-11-30 13:35:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID EC ECON EFIS ETRD PGOV PREL SENV |
| 04QUITO3132 | INFORMATION FOR MEANINGFUL LABOR RIGHTS REPORT [...] Summary: This cable provides information on labor conditions in Ecuador as requested for the Meaningful Labor Rights Report, and is keyed to questions included in RefTel. End Summary. Administration of Labor Law --------------------------- 2. The Ministry of Labor and Human Resources [...] |
2004-12-01 14:57:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB PGOV EC |
| 04QUITO3146 | CONGRESS GOES ON HOLIDAY, BUT REST UNLIKELY [...] (C) Summary: Congress ended its stormy fall calendar on December 2, releasing its combative politicians until January 4. Political leaders are likely to stay busy during holiday season, as all parties regroup for the battle over Congressional leadership and control of the Supreme Court set [...] |
2004-12-02 22:14:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 04QUITO3147 | ECUADOR ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT SOUTH AMERICAN [...] (SBU) On December 2, President Gutierrez discussed with the Ambassador his upcoming trip to Peru. He will participate there in a meeting of Andean presidents and later join South American leaders in signing a declaration to move toward the creation of a Community of South American Nations. [...] |
2004-12-03 15:20:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL EC |
| 04QUITO3151 | CAREER DIP TO HEAD ECUADOR'S WASHINGTON EMBASSY [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Lucio Gutierrez told the Ambassador on December 2 that he would nominate MFA Bilateral U/S Roberto Betancourt to head Ecuador's embassy in Washington. The career diplomat will replace political appointee Ambassador Raul Gangotena, who submitted his resignation Novembe [...] |
2004-12-03 20:53:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 04QUITO3153 | ECUADOR LABOR UPDATE [...] (U) Summary: Following are recent labor-related developments of interest: --Changes at the MOL (para. 2) --MOL Izurieta Meets With Congress' Paez (3) --Chamber of Commerce Challenges Subcontracting Decree (5) --Hunger Strike by Public Sector Workers (6) --Penitentiary and Health Worker St [...] |
2004-12-03 23:10:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB PGOV EC |
| 04QUITO3167 | PRESIDENT GUTIERREZ CALLS CONGRESS BACK TO DEBATE [...] (SBU) On December 5, in a surprise exercise of constitutional privilege, President Gutierrez canceled his planned trip to Peru and called Congress back from recess into extraordinary session on December 8. In so doing he requested that they consider three issues: 1) the censure of recently [...] |
2004-12-07 23:01:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EC |
| 04QUITO3168 | CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECUADORIAN [...] (S) President Gutierrez' call for a special Congressional session, while controversial, is unlikely to directly threaten political stability. Nevertheless, this event bears watching, given the proven potential for Congressional conflicts to lead to unforeseen consequences on stability in thi [...] |
2004-12-07 23:05:00 | Embassy Quito | SECRET | PGOV PREL MARR EC |
| 04QUITO3192 | CUBA: NSC-DIRECTED COUNTRY-BY-COUNTRY REVIEW [...] After checking with the MFA, we have been unable to confirm any recent Ecuadorian government actions to advance democracy, human rights, and fundamental freedoms in Cuba. Ecuador abstained from the UNHRC Cuban human rights resolution in 2004. Further information on this subject may be availa [...] |
2004-12-09 22:31:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ETTC PREL EC |
| 04QUITO3202 | ECUADOR PREPARING TO MOVE FORWARD ON CIVIL [...] Summary. Ecuador's Congress is preparing for the second debate on proposed civil aviation legislation sometime in January. A legal advisor to the committee in which the draft legislation is pending says a vote on the floor of the Congress is likely sometime in February. The passage of this [...] |
2004-12-10 17:15:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR PGOV EC |
| 04QUITO3256 | ARTICLE 98: GOE AWARE OF NETHERCUTT-BACKS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Word of the Nethercutt Amendment, which mandates reductions in Economic Support Funds (ESF) available to non-Article 98 signers, has reached GoE leaders, and they are worried. In a pull-aside at a diplomatic reception recently, the foreign minister requested clarification and i [...] |
2004-12-17 22:25:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MASS MARR PGOV EC KICC |
| 04QUITO3257 | DECEMBER TIP UPDATE [...] Summary. Ecuadorian police conducted 130 raids from November 12 to December 9 and found 28 minors who may be trafficking victims. The congressional committee reviewed the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) bill, and it has been amended and is ready for Congress' second reading. Several embassies [...] |
2004-12-17 22:28:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV PREL EC |
| 04QUITO3260 | ECUADOR SPLIT ON SUPPORT OF FREE TRADE AGREEMENT [...] Summary. A public opinion poll sponsored by USAID shows that about half of the Ecuadorian public has heard about the FTA and about half of the public (both informed and uninformed) supports it. Not surprisingly, solid majorities believe that the FTA will benefit the U.S. far more than Ecuado [...] |
2004-12-20 20:52:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | BEXP ECIN ECON ETRD PGOV PREL EC FTA |
| 04QUITO3262 | MOL UNDERSTANDS NEED FOR LABOR CODE REFORM [...] (SBU) Summary: While Minister of Labor Izurieta understands the need for labor code reform, he is not focused on freedom of association issues. The Embassy has made it clear to Izurieta that the U.S. Congress is less likely to pass a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) including Ecuador unless the l [...] |
2004-12-20 22:07:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB PGOV ETRD EC |
| 04QUITO3280 | CONTACT INFO FOR GOE OFFICIALS [...] In response to Reftel, Post provides the following contact information for Government of Ecuador leadership: HEAD OF GOVERNMENT/STATE LAST NAME: GUTIERREZ FIRST NAME: LUCIO TITLE: PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OFFICE PH:(593-2) 2580833 / 2588888 CELL: (593)94-236187 COMMENTS: GUT [...] |
2004-12-22 20:24:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PREL EC |
| 04QUITO3289 | ECUADOR 2005 NATIONAL TRADE ESTIMATE REPORT [...] Below is Embassy Quito's submission for the 2005 National Trade Estimate Report. A copy of the report has been provided to USTR Bennett Harman via email. The report was a collaborative effort between State, the Commercial Service and the Foreign Agricultural Service. TRADE SUMMARY ---- [...] |
2004-12-23 19:53:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECON EFIN EC |
| 04QUITO3302 | EX-FINMIN MAY REPLACE CAREER DIP AS AMB-DESIGNATE [...] (C) SUMMARY: GoE President Lucio Gutierrez is reconsidering his earlier designation of career diplomat Roberto Betancourt to head Ecuador's embassy in Washington (Reftel). According to separate Embassy Quito sources, former Minister of Finance Mauricio Pozo now appears the preferred candida [...] |
2004-12-28 15:46:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EC |
| 04QUITO3303 | REFUGEE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS NEW TRENDS [...] Summary: A recent study by a Quito human rights organization, the Center for Documentation of Human Rights Segundo Montes Mozo (CSMM), highlights strengths and deficiencies in the GoE's and civil society responses to the issue of Colombian refugees. The study says that while Ecuador has goo [...] |
2004-12-28 19:20:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREF EC |
| 04QUITO3304 | INDIGENOUS ORGANIZATION ELECTS NEW HEAD [...] Summary: The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) on December 23 elected Luis Macas president of the organization, a post he previously held twice. Macas, a former Minister of Agriculture and an ethnic Saraguro indian from the south of the country, will lead the org [...] |
2004-12-28 19:22:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1000 | EMBASSY RECOMMENDS 3C FINDINGS FOR ISAIAS BROTHERS [...] (C) SUMMARY: William and Roberto Isaias, former chiefs of Filanbanco bank and among Ecuador's richest men, fled Ecuador in 1999 after absconding with over $100 million in government bailout funds. They used their ill-gotten wealth to buy safe passage from Ecuador and later pressured prosecu [...] |
2005-05-02 23:21:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV CVIS EFIN KCOR EC |
| 05QUITO1005 | MAY LABOR UPDATE [...] Summary: Following are recent labor-related developments of interest: --Unions Make Demands to New Government (para. 2) --New Minister of Labor Still Not Named (4) --Presidential Decree to Remove Bureaucrats (5) --New Unions Registering Independently (6) --Judicial and Medical Workers End [...] |
2005-05-03 20:25:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO1018 | EMBASSY 90-DAY GOALS, CHALLENGES UNDER PALACIO GOVT [...] (C) SUMMARY: In word if not always in deed, Ecuador's Lucio Gutierrez administration qualified as pro-American. President Alfredo Palacio's most definitely does not. Brought to power by street mobs ("forajidos") clamoring for change, Palacio's closest advisor and Cabinet stalwart is gringo-b [...] |
2005-05-04 21:31:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR KDEM SNAR PTER ECON ASEC EC CO |
| 05QUITO1021 | NEW POLICE CHIEF A US ALLY [...] (C) Summary: New National Police Chief Jose Antonio Vinueza told the Ambassador his priorities would be to restructure the police force, combat narco-trafficking, and restore the police's reputation. Vinueza vowed to continue to be a strong US ally. He said relations with the military were [...] |
2005-05-04 22:03:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1024 | ECUADORIAN JOINT CHIEF VOWS CONTINUED U.S. [...] (C) SUMMARY: Positive atmospherics surrounded the Ambassador's initial call on new Ecuadorian Joint Forces Commander Admiral Manuel Zapater, the admiral recalling fondly their years-earlier meetings in Guayaquil. Zapater promised continued Ecuadorian security collaboration with the United S [...] |
2005-05-04 22:55:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MASS PREL SNAR PTER EC CO |
| 05QUITO1047 | NEW TRADE MINISTER SOUNDS REASONABLE [...] (SBU) Summary: In separate meetings with the Ambassador and AID, Ecuador's new Minister for Trade Oswaldo Molestina said he wanted an FTA with the USG, but was most concerned about the agricultural negotiations. He said that he intended to keep lead FTA negotiator Cristian Espinosa on board, [...] |
2005-05-06 19:49:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD PGOV EINV ECON PINR EC |
| 05QUITO1048 | ECUADOR'S ABRUPT CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT: EMBASSY [...] (SBU) Summary: The abrupt overthrow of the Gutierrez government on April 20 was not unprecedented here, but tested the Embassy's capacity to respond quickly to a crisis. In this after action report we examine the lessons we learned from this experience, hoping that it will be useful for us an [...] |
2005-05-06 20:36:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL SNAR ASEC PGOV AMGT EC CONS |
| 05QUITO1050 | ECUADOR: NEW VICE PRESIDENT ROUNDS OUT CABINET [...] (U) Summary: Congress swore in Alejandro Serrano Aguilar as Vice President of Ecuador on May 5. Serrano hails from Ecuador's third largest city of Cuenca, providing some regional balance to a Guayaquil-centric cabinet. Serrano's swearing in leaves only the Labor portfolio still open; labor [...] |
2005-05-06 21:18:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PINR EC |
| 05QUITO1051 | ECUADOR TENTATIVELY SUPPORTS USG ON OAS WORKING [...] On May 5, PolOff relayed talking points to MFA Human Rights Officer Carmen Larrea emphasizing the reasons a new convention would weaken existing international accords. On May 6, Larrea told PolOff the USG's reasoning made sense and that she tentatively agreed with our position. However, she [...] |
2005-05-06 21:28:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM AORC EC USOAS |
| 05QUITO1054 | MINISTER OF FINANCE ON FISCAL POLICY: AMBASSADOR'S [...] (C) Summary: In his first meeting with the Ambassador, Ecuador's new Minister of Economy and Finance Rafael Correa made clear that he intends to implement a policy far removed from the responsible fiscal management of his two most-recent predecessors. Correa said he expects the IFIs to back [...] |
2005-05-06 21:57:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON EC |
| 05QUITO1058 | ECUADOR: CONGRESS STRUGGLING TO REPAIR IMAGE [...] (U) Summary: The Ecuadorian Congress' already low credibility was rocked by an inopportune sex scandal involving sordid events in a Lima hotel room. Five Ecuadorian deputies, in Lima to attend the round of free trade agreement negotiations, allegedly caused thousands of dollars of damage to [...] |
2005-05-10 19:38:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1060 | MFA LEERY OF CEDING JURISDICTION OVER SMUGGLING [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a May 10 call on Acting Foreign Minister Marcelo Fernandez, the Charge requested the GoE waive jurisdiction over the F/V Simon Bolivar, an Ecuador-flagged fishing vessel interdicted May 8 while smuggling four tons of cocaine. In his demarche, the Charge revealed the Bolivar [...] |
2005-05-11 22:00:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR MASS MOPS SNAR PTER EC CO |
| 05QUITO1096 | GOE REPLACES FTA NEGOTIATION TEAM [...] (U) Summary. President Palacio issued an Executive Decree May 12 making wholesale changes to the GOE FTA negotiation team. Trade Minister Oswaldo Molestina has been named lead negotiator, though former lead negotiator Cristian Espinosa has been kept on as Under Secretary for Foreign Trade and [...] |
2005-05-12 21:18:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD PGOV EINV PREL ECON EC |
| 05QUITO1097 | ECUADOR: BIOS: NEW MINISTER OF LABOR IS UNION [...] (SBU) Summary: The President swore in Galo Chiriboga Zambrano as Minister of Labor on May 11, completing his Cabinet. Chiriboga, who was pushed by union leaders, took office pledging to strengthen worker rights and fight child labor, while also increasing competitiveness. Chiriboga's appoi [...] |
2005-05-12 21:43:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR ELAB EC |
| 05QUITO1098 | MFA REFUSES TO CEDE JURISDICTION OVER SMUGGLERS [...] Via diplomatic note, the Foreign Ministry denied the USG's request to cede jurisdiction over the captain, crew, and cargo of the F/V Simon Bolivar, an Ecuador-flagged fishing vessel interdicted May 8 while carrying four tons of cocaine. Invoking Articles 4 and 17 of the 1988 UN Convention Ag [...] |
2005-05-12 22:14:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL MARR MASS MOPS SNAR PTER EC |
| 05QUITO1100 | ECUADOR: DEMOCRATIC DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE? [...] (C) Summary: The political scene is coming alive with voices, new and old, providing different prescriptions for Ecuador's democratic ills. Congress on May 11 ejected four more of its members, tossing due process to the wind in the face of threatened protests on May 12. As the first test of [...] |
2005-05-13 13:54:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR EC |
| 05QUITO1159 | PALACIO PROPOSES HUGE INVESTMENT IN SCIENTIFIC [...] Summary. In a conversation with the director of Ecuador,s national scientific research institution (SENACYT, or Secretaria Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia), we learned that the Palacio administration has proposed a $40 million infusion for scientific research. The director, while pleased, w [...] |
2005-05-17 22:06:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EAGR ETRD KSCA PGOV TPHY EC |
| 05QUITO1160 | REQUEST FOR DOS REVIEW OF POST-VETTED MEMBERS OF [...] The Embassy has developed plans to train Ecuadorian sergeant majors at an EC facility in Machachi, Ecuador. Half of the participants were vetted in March, in order to take part in other USG-sponsored training. Bio information for the remainder follow: NAME AND DPOB: MENDOZA PONCE, JERM [...] |
2005-05-17 22:19:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL EC KICC |
| 05QUITO1169 | GOVERNMENT CHANGE FURTHER HINDERS ARTICLE 98 [...] (C) SUMMARY: With the rise to power of President Alfredo Palacio, Article 98's chances in Ecuador sunk from bad to worse. Palacio's right-hand man, Minister of Government Mauricio Gandara, laid down an early marker, claiming there would be "no immunity for U.S. soldiers" during this governm [...] |
2005-05-18 23:02:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MASS MARR SNAR PTER EC CO KICC |
| 05QUITO1177 | ECUADOR: FM AND MINDEF MEETINGS [...] (C) Summary: The Ambassador met separately with FM Parra and MinDef Espinosa on May 19. Parra expressed hope for the strongest possible relations with the U.S., and pledged MFA support for successful FTA negotiations. He expressed GOE discomfort with language in the draft OAS resolution, sa [...] |
2005-05-19 23:05:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MARR MASS PINR SNAR EC |
| 05QUITO1181 | ECUADORIAN FISCAL POLICY: LIVING ON THE EDGE [...] (C) Summary: Minister of Economy and Finance Rafael Correa inherited a relatively responsibly-managed fiscal situation from his predecessors. If he continues their policies, he should be able to meet his budget without great difficulty. However, his early statements to the press have damage [...] |
2005-05-20 18:06:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON EC |
| 05QUITO1186 | SUPREME COURT REFORM CLEARS CONGRESS [...] Summary: On May 18, Congress approved most of the President's partial veto to the reform governing the make-up of the Supreme Court, overriding only the provision which would have reduced the number of judges. Despite lingering differences, Congressional approval clears the court reform to [...] |
2005-05-23 15:33:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1190 | ECUADOR: DEMOCRATIC ACTION PLANNING [...] (SBU) Summary: With democratic stability set back by repeated irregular changes of government, the mission has begun a process to take stock of our democracy-support efforts and chart new directions. That action planning process will culminate, we hope, in a clear analysis of the challenge [...] |
2005-05-23 17:13:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1191 | WELCOME TO ECUADOR, CODEL SHAW [...] The U.S. Mission in Ecuador extends a warm welcome to the Honorable E. Clay Shaw, Nancy L. Johnson, John M. Spratt, Sam Johnson, Bill Archer, Ed Pastor and spouses. You are coming to one of the most environmentally diverse and spectacular countries on Earth. You will experience the diversity [...] |
2005-05-23 17:36:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV ECON SENV EC |
| 05QUITO120 | DEMINING: POLITICAL PROBLEMS THREATEN OPERATIONAL [...] SUMMARY: Humanitarian demining (HD) continues apace in Ecuador, although political difficulties - both bilateral and multilateral - threaten future effectiveness. 2004 successes include the conclusion of mine clearance operations in El Oro, near-completion in Loja, and termination of mine im [...] |
2005-01-19 20:04:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | KHDP PHUM MASS MOPS MARR EC PE |
| 05QUITO1202 | GOE REQUESTS AGREMENT [...] (SBU) On May 24, the Embassy received diplomatic note no. 21177-GM/2005 (faxed to WHA/AND), signed by FM Antonio Parra Gil, requesting USG consent and agrement for Dr. Alvaro Perez Intriago as Ecuador's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States. 2. (SBU) The note i [...] |
2005-05-24 20:58:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PINR EC |
| 05QUITO1203 | NEW MOL AN ALLY ON LABOR RIGHTS [...] Summary: New Minister of Labor Galo Chiriboga is concerned about labor rights in Ecuador and hopes to improve unions' image, increase dialogue between business and union representatives, and enforce ILO commitments. Chiriboga will travel to Geneva for the meetings of the ILO Governing Body [...] |
2005-05-24 21:31:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO121 | ECUADOR UNDECIDED ON OAS SYG, SUPPORTS [...] (C) In response to Reftel regarding U.S. support for Francisco Flores's OAS secretary general (OAS SYG) candidacy, Charge January 19 called on Roberto Betancourt, the Ecuadorian MFA's third-ranking official and ambassador-designate to the United States (FM Patricio Zuquilanda was unavailable [...] |
2005-01-19 20:09:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL AORC EC OAS |
| 05QUITO1214 | PALACIO OUTLINES PLAN FOR HIS REMAINING EIGHTEEN [...] Summary: In public comments on May 24, President Alfredo Palacio fleshed out his government's plan for its remaining 18 months, focusing on six points: politics, the economy, foreign policy, infrastructure, health and education, and security. The President set a timeframe of three to six m [...] |
2005-05-26 16:53:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL ECON ETRD EC |
| 05QUITO1218 | ENERGY MINISTER ON HIS WAY OUT? [...] (SBU) Elder statesman and self-professed man of integrity, Energy Minister Fausto Cordovez may not be long in his job. Two weeks ago, he reportedly tendered his resignation to President Palacio when Palacio insisted on appointing Palacio confidant Robert Pinzon as the new president of state-run [...] |
2005-05-26 20:45:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EPET ENRG PGOV ECON EINV ETRD EC |
| 05QUITO1220 | ECUADOR: ILO BUDGET DEMARCHE DELIVERED [...] LabOff conveyed reftel talking points urging support for fiscal restraint on the ILO's proposed budget for 2006-2007 to Minister of Labor Galo Chiriboga on May 23. Chiriboga, who will be traveling to Geneva for the ILO's International Labor Conference on May 27, said he agreed that the propos [...] |
2005-05-26 21:52:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC ELAB EC ILO |
| 05QUITO1222 | ECUADOR: DEMARCHE ON CUBAN ILO CANDIDACY DELIVERED [...] LabOff conveyed reftel talking points on Cuban candidacy for the ILO Governing Body to Dr. Solimar Herrera, International Affairs Coordinator at the Ministry of Labor, on May 26. Dr. Herrera promised to review our points on supporting the candidacy of Barbados, and will travel to Geneva on M [...] |
2005-05-26 21:53:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM CU ELAB PREL EC ILO |
| 05QUITO1243 | ILO'S INTERNATIONAL LABOR CONFERENCE [...] (U) LabOff delivered reftel points to MFA Director of Multilateral Affairs and International Organizations Benjamin Villacis, and to Veronica Mora and Fernando Altamirano of the same office. Altamirano said that demarche points on the ILO proposed budget had already been delivered to Ecuador' [...] |
2005-05-31 21:51:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC ELAB PHUM PREL BB CU EC ILO |
| 05QUITO1244 | OASGA: FM TO HEAD ECUADOR'S DELEGATION [...] (C) MFA Director of Multilateral Affairs and International Organizations Benjamin Villacis told PolOff on May 31 that Ecuador had not yet decided which candidate Ecuador would support for Deputy Secretary General at the OAS General Assembly in Fort Lauderdale (June 5-7). He said the MFA had [...] |
2005-05-31 21:55:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | AORC PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1255 | CONGRESS BACK IN MAJORITY'S HANDS [...] (SBU) Summary: With the reorganization of the legislative commissions on May 26, the current majority coalition, made up of the Social Christian Party (PSC), the Democratic Left (ID), and Pachakutik (PK), consolidated its control of Congress. Deputies from these three parties now hold the c [...] |
2005-06-01 19:13:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1256 | PRESIDENT PALACIO SENDING MIXED SIGNALS [...] (C) Summary: In a meeting which failed to inspire great confidence in his leadership ability or vision, President Palacio told the Ambassador on May 31 that his government is focused on achieving durable political reforms. Palacio expressed continued concern about disloyalty in the police an [...] |
2005-06-01 22:25:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR MOPS KCRM EC |
| 05QUITO1257 | PRESIDENT PALACIO ON IMF, FTA AND HEALTHCARE [...] (C) Summary. In a May 31 meeting with the Ambassador, President Palacio, a heart surgeon, discussed his ambitious national health care plan. He also told the Ambassador to pay little attention to the exuberance of youth displayed by Palacio's Minister of Economy and Finance Rafael Correa. In [...] |
2005-06-01 22:27:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV ETRD EPET EFIN EC |
| 05QUITO1265 | NEW MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT ACKNOWLEDGES [...] Summary. In a courtesy call with the new Minister of the Environment, Anita Alban Mora, Embassy and USAID officials presented Galapagos and illegal logging as the Mission,s two top environmental priorities. Alban agreed that these issues were serious and said she planned to deal with them, w [...] |
2005-06-02 19:35:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID ECON EFIS ETRD PGOV PREL SENV EC |
| 05QUITO1267 | CONGRESS PASSES TIP LEGISLATION [...] Summary: On June 1, Congress passed a law criminalizing trafficking in persons (TIP) with 6 to 35-year prison terms. The legislation also penalizes companies and individuals who promote sexual tourism and child sex tourism with 6 to 12 years. The bill is expected to go to President Alfredo [...] |
2005-06-02 22:42:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1268 | ECUADOR TO SUPPORT U.S. HUMAN RIGHTS CANDIDATE [...] (SBU) MFA U/S for Multilateral Affairs, Julio Prado, told PolChief on June 2 that he had instructed Ecuador's OAS mission to support the candidacy of Prof. Paolo Carozza for commissioner on the IACHR. Prado said the GOE had the highest estimation of Carozza's qualifications and expressed app [...] |
2005-06-02 22:42:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PHUM EC OAS |
| 05QUITO1269 | NOMINATION FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S AWARD FOR [...] No summary [...] |
2005-06-03 16:07:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | BEXP EINV ELAB ETRD KSEP SENV EC |
| 05QUITO1273 | ECUADOR COMMITTED TO FIGHTING TIP [...] Summary: We delivered reftel talking points and the suggested trafficking in persons (TIP) action plan to the MOG and MFA on June 2, explaining the urgency of significant action to combat TIP in the next 60 days. MOG officials are reviewing the anti-TIP law Congress passed on June 1 and will [...] |
2005-06-03 18:25:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | KCRM KWMN PHUM PREL SMIG EC |
| 05QUITO1274 | VP READY TO DIALOGUE [...] (C) Summary: Vice President Alejandro Serrano Aguilar discussed his role as coordinator of national dialogue with the Ambassador, including plans for the upcoming public dialogue process and referendum that the GOE is planning to hold by December 11. Serrano also discussed his past experien [...] |
2005-06-03 19:51:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1322 | DROPPING DOLLAR RAISES PROSPECTS IN TULCAN [...] SUMMARY: Tulcan, capital of Ecuador's Carchi province, bestrides the Panamerican Highway four hours from Quito and four miles from Colombia. Like frontier towns worldwide, Carchi's capital enjoys its share of money changers, truck stops, and customs checkpoints, most visitors clocking in for [...] |
2005-06-08 20:36:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV SNAR PTER ECON ETRD EC CO |
| 05QUITO1340 | GUTIERREZ RETURN JUST ONE OF PALACIO'S PROBLEMS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Forty-five days young, the Alfredo Palacio government has hit its first snags. Two cabinet ministers resigned this week (Septel) amidst charges they owed money to the state. One other is backpedaling over accusations he conspired to depose former President Lucio Gutierrez. Mil [...] |
2005-06-09 23:09:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO1344 | FORMER FM FACING POSSIBLE CONGRESSIONAL CENSURE [...] (C) Summary: The president of Congress has publicly threatened to bring charges against Former Foreign Minister Patricio Zuquilanda, who lost his position with ex-President Gutierrez' ouster, for violating Ecuador's sovereignty by allowing the US military to sink decrepit Ecuadorian flagged [...] |
2005-06-10 14:51:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1350 | GOE DEMANDS DEBTORS' RESIGNATIONS [...] Summary. On June 6, Secretary General of the Administration Luis Herreria called for the resignations of all senior public servants, including Cabinet ministers, who were delinquent in debt repayments before taking office. Herreria's announcement came two days after Congress published a lis [...] |
2005-06-10 18:26:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KCOR PREL ECON EC |
| 05QUITO1352 | PUSHING FOR PROGRESS ON THE 60-DAY PLAN [...] (SBU) Summary: On June 7, the Ambassador explained the importance to the United States of the new anti-trafficking law to General Jose Vinueza (the national chief of police), who promised to conduct raids and arrest traffickers. First Lady Maria Beatriz Paret responded enthusiastically on Ju [...] |
2005-06-10 18:36:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1363 | ECUADORIAN NGO HAS REFORM PROPOSAL [...] Summary: Ecuadorian NGO Citizen Participation (PC) has prepared an electoral reform proposal that will be discussed in forums nationwide, and then presented to the Vice Presidency and the National Modernization Council (CONAM) for possible inclusion in the December 11 referendum. The initia [...] |
2005-06-13 14:19:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1381 | ECUADOR LIKELY TO SUPPORT SWISS CIRCULAR ON MDA [...] On June 8, PolOff delivered talking points and a copy of the Swiss circular to MFA Human Rights Director Carmen Larrea. The document recommends a conference to discuss a Third Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions granting the Magen David Adom (MDA) full membership in the Internation [...] |
2005-06-13 21:22:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AORC PHUM PREF PREL IS SZ EC ICRC |
| 05QUITO1384 | LIBERTAD ACT RESPONSE [...] PolOff met with MFA Human Rights Director Carmen Larrea on June 13, who said the GOE had no programs to support democracy and human rights in Cuba. She said the GOE lacks sufficient resources to look into such issues. 2. We have no specific information on Ecuadorian investments in Cuba. [...] |
2005-06-13 22:41:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL CU ETRD ETTC EC |
| 05QUITO1392 | ECUADOR: JUNE LABOR UPDATE [...] Summary: Following are recent labor-related developments of interest: --ILO Meets with New MOL (para. 2) --Vice Minister Outlines Labor Code Reform Plan (4) --Child Labor Inspectors Rehired (6) --FENACLE Reports Incidents on Banana Plantations (7) --MOE Proposes Investing Social Security [...] |
2005-06-14 20:23:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO1403 | ANTI-BOLIVARIAN COMMENTS LEAD TO GOE DAMAGE CONTROL [...] (U) Summary: Public Administration Secretary Luis Herreria made televised remarks on June 10 criticizing Venezuela's Bolivarian movement and blaming it for causing instability in the region. The GOV protested orally and asked for a diplomatic response from the GOE. In an attempt to mend re [...] |
2005-06-15 22:53:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1404 | WELCOME TO ECUADOR, GENERAL CRADDOCK [...] (U) On behalf of Mission Ecuador, General, please accept a warm welcome on your second visit to this fascinating South American nation. Regrettably, your tight schedule forced an agenda trimming -- we initially had you traversing Ecuador's border with Colombia -- but we'll file that itinerary [...] |
2005-06-16 13:39:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR MASS MOPS SNAR PTER EC CO |
| 05QUITO1407 | VP Discusses FTA, Referendum, and Gutierrez [...] Summary. Vice President Alejandro Serrano Aguilar met June 15 with the Ambassador for breakfast. He discussed his support for the US-Andean Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the upcoming public dialogue process and referendum, and ex- President Gutierrez's anti-GOE commentary from Washington. Ser [...] |
2005-06-16 17:01:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1420 | INDIGENOUS FEDERATIONS FOCUSING ON ECONOMY [...] Summary: In the second month following the ouster of ex-President Gutierrez, indigenous groups are biding their time on the political front and focusing on economic concerns. FEINE, representing Ecuador's evangelical indigenous, is waiting for the new government to stabilize and for earlier [...] |
2005-06-17 18:01:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1445 | RESPONDING TO ECUADOR'S GOVERNANCE CRISIS [...] (C) Summary: Following the April 20 change in government, the US Mission underwent a two-month process to gather data and analyze the deeper causes of instability affecting Ecuador's governance. Mission sections and agencies, led by the Ambassador, met on June 14 to discuss our short and lo [...] |
2005-06-20 21:58:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1446 | ECUADOR UNDECIDED ON UN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS [...] On June 20, PolOff relayed reftel talking points to MFA Human Rights Director Carmen Larrea. Larrea said Ecuador does not have a position on how the UN Commission on Human Rights should be reformed. Ecuador is reviewing all proposals including Cuba's, she said, and will look for a non-polit [...] |
2005-06-20 22:26:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1447 | GOVERNMENT OF ECUADOR PARTICIPATES IN TIP FORUM [...] Summary: Four GOE officials spoke at the June 16 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) forum, sponsored by the Embassy and Catholic University. Topics included anti-trafficking legislation, underage prostitution, and the government's actions. "Dying to Leave", a video about trafficking, was shown, [...] |
2005-06-20 22:27:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1506 | ECUADOR'S PARTICIPATION IN MERCOSUR SUMMIT [...] (U) Summary: On June 18 Alfredo Palacio embarked on his first international visit as president of Ecuador, arriving in Asuncion, Paraguay, for the 28th Mercosur Summit. He went with two main objectives: to form and strengthen bilateral ties with other South American countries, and to publicl [...] |
2005-06-24 19:59:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1507 | ROADBLOCKS MANY TO GUTIERREZ RETURN [...] SUMMARY. Former Ecuador President Lucio Gutierrez has announced his intention to return to Ecuador to confront those who deposed him. An imminent Gutierrez return appears unlikely, however, owing to the myriad of charges, criminal and otherwise, filed against him. The ex-president's politic [...] |
2005-06-24 20:06:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KCOR PREL PHUM EC |
| 05QUITO1518 | REQUEST DOS REVIEW ON POST-VETTED MEMBERS OF EC [...] The Embassy has developed plans to train these members of the Ecuadorian Air Force. Bio information follows: NAME AND DPOB: -- TAPIA Guerrero, LTC Fausto Enrique. Born 20 Nov 1970, Chunchi, Chimborazo province. -- RECALDE Vivero, 2nd LT Juan Francisco 23 Jun 1979, Ibarra, Imbabura [...] |
2005-06-27 22:52:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL EC KICC |
| 05QUITO1522 | FURTHER BACKGROUND ON POTENTIAL INTENDING [...] (U) Reftel requested Department concurrence regarding Embassy-recommended visa revocations. This telegram provides additional background on the visa holders, all associated with the administration of former Ecuador President Lucio Gutierrez. We no longer seek to revoke the visa of one, but [...] |
2005-06-28 18:14:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | CVIS PREL KCOR EC |
| 05QUITO1531 | WELCOME TO ECUADOR CHAIRMAN THOMAS DELEGATION [...] (U) Chairman Thomas and other Ways and Means Committee Members, we look forward to your visit to Ecuador. Unfortunately, I will have to miss your visit as I move on to my next assignment; however, you will be in the very capable hands of our mission in Ecuador. Your full agenda will include a [...] |
2005-06-29 15:08:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECON OVIP EFIN PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1534 | FARC ATTACKS FURTHER ALIENATE QUITO, BOGOTA [...] (C) SUMMARY: News of the FARC's lethal attacks in southern Putumayo June 25 spawned a counterproductive but oh-so-Ecuadorian response from politicians in Quito. Rather than condemning the narcoterrorists and acknowledging that border security requires bilateral cooperation, Palacio administ [...] |
2005-06-29 15:15:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS MARR SNAR PTER EC CO |
| 05QUITO156 | GOE ATTEMPTS TO GET PAST COURT ISSUE [...] (SBU) Summary: Supported by a pro-government march of 10,000, President Gutierrez introduced his referendum proposals in Congress on January 21. The reforms include a method to select a new Supreme Court and other judicial institutions. Already sensing opposition to his referendum from wit [...] |
2005-01-21 20:16:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM EC |
| 05QUITO159 | LABOR CODE REFORM PROPOSALS AND PROSPECTS [...] (U) Summary: Minister of Labor Raul Izurieta plans to announce a labor code reform package in February, which he expects to submit to Congress in April. The reforms would permit the formation of industry-wide unions, as well as include various pro-business competitiveness initiatives. Izuri [...] |
2005-01-21 21:45:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO1621 | USITC 2004 Annual Andean Investment and Drug Crop [...] Below is Post's response to the U.S. International Trade Commission's request for information regarding Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA) related investment in Ecuador in 2004. 2. Summary. Ecuadorian investment in industries that export to the United States has not [...] |
2005-07-08 19:26:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECON OTRA ASEC PE |
| 05QUITO1628 | REQUEST FOR DOS REVIEW ON POST-VETTED MEMBERS OF [...] The Embassy has developed plans to train these members of the Ecuadorian armed forces. Bio information follows: NAME AND DPOB: -- Quishpe Ipiales, LT (Navy) German Napoleon. B. 22 Oct 1976 Quito, Pichincha province; -- Proano Daza, LTC (Army) Jacinto Agustin. B. 31 Dec 1962, Pimapiro, [...] |
2005-07-11 22:02:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL EC KICC |
| 05QUITO1629 | CODEL THOMAS DELIVERS TOUGH MESSAGE ON TRADE [...] Summary: In meetings with Ecuadorian Members of Congress, Minister of Trade, AmCham members and President (reported reftel) Codel Thomas delivered a tough message on trade and the FTA, stating clearly that the current ATPDEA benefits will not be renewed, that the U.S. will have no qualms abo [...] |
2005-07-12 13:36:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECON PGOV ELAB EINV EC |
| 05QUITO1635 | BORDER SECURITY DOMINATES PALACIO-URIBE DISCUSSION [...] (C) SUMMARY: Amidst a perception of frayed bilateral relations -- due mainly to GoE leaders' anti-Colombia outbursts -- Presidents Alfredo Palacio and Alvaro Uribe briefly met July 7 in Costa Rica. Media here claimed the session was substance-lite and lasted only fifteen minutes; an MFA con [...] |
2005-07-12 22:59:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SNAR PTER EC CO |
| 05QUITO1643 | SUSPECTED FARC MILITANTS DEPORTED [...] (U) Summary: Three suspected FARC militants, captured in a Quito clinic on July 11, were deported to Colombia on July 12. President Palacio telephoned a grateful President Uribe on July 12 to inform him of the capture. One of the suspects is believed to have led the FARC attack on the Tete [...] |
2005-07-13 21:53:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PTER CO EC |
| 05QUITO1645 | STAFFDEL SEES CN, CT GAPS IN ECUADOR [...] (S) SUMMARY: Use of Ecuadorian territory by narcotics and alien smugglers dominated discussions during Staffdel Walker, which visited Ecuador July 4-9. A DEA briefing revealed that agency,s eavesdropping weaknesses, exacerbated by Ecuadorian cellular carriers migration from analog to digita [...] |
2005-07-14 15:49:00 | Embassy Quito | SECRET | SNAR PTER MASS PGOV PREL EC CO |
| 05QUITO1663 | GOE CONSIDERING CHAVEZ LOAN [...] (C) Summary: The Palacio government may be considering a $500 million loan from Venezuela, after visits to Caracas by FM Parra and MinFin Correa. The GOE is apparently considering turning to Chavez to fill a looming budgetary gap caused by investor lack of confidence in Correa, the possibili [...] |
2005-07-14 22:58:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EFIN EC |
| 05QUITO1665 | ECUADOR: PROGRESS ON TIP [...] Summary: There have been advances on several fronts to combat TIP here. On June 23, Ecuador's new penal code took effect, criminalizing and applying prison terms of 6 to 16 years for traffickers. First Lady Maria Paret again expressed her personal commitment to preventing more children fro [...] |
2005-07-15 15:23:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1666 | SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM IN PRESIDENT'S HANDS [...] (U) Summary: President Palacio has ten days from July 11 to decide whether to approve or veto a Congressional bill proposing the complete return of social security reserve funds to the population. Currently, the funds, paid yearly by employers and managed by the Ecuadorian Social Security I [...] |
2005-07-15 16:07:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ELAB PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO1667 | FIRST STAGE OF NATIONAL DIALOGUE PROCESS COMES TO [...] SUMMARY: On July 11, PolIntern met with Alexandra Perez, the executive director of the National State Modernization Council (CONAM) to discuss the ongoing national dialogue process and December 11 referendum. Perez is supporting Vice President Alejandro Serrano in directing this project; she [...] |
2005-07-15 18:13:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1671 | MEDIA REACTION: ECUADOR FOREIGN POLICY AND [...] Newspapers have reported widely on visits to Caracas of the foreign affairs and economics ministries, which included meetings with Chavez, and increasing ties between Ecuador and Venezuela. An article in the July 15 El Universo is entitled "Change in foreign policy" and includes an intervie [...] |
2005-07-15 18:44:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL OPRC KIRC KPAO EC |
| 05QUITO1673 | LICENSING CONDITIONS IN ECUADOR'S TELECOMS SECTOR [...] Per reftel, Commercial Specialist and Econ Officer met with acting President of the National Telecommunications Council Antonio Arroyo on July 11 to discuss licensing conditions in the Ecuadorian telecommunications sector. The following information also reflects discussions with other teleco [...] |
2005-07-15 18:44:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ECPS ETRD EINV ECON EC XR |
| 05QUITO1715 | ECUADOR: MIXED SIGNALS ON CHAVEZ DEAL [...] (C) Summary: Press reports suggest Ecuador is ready to sign agreements with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on financing and oil deals, despite President Alfredo Palacio's public denials that any GOE decision has been taken. Privately, however, Palacio administration officials are telling u [...] |
2005-07-20 23:35:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EFIN ENRG EC |
| 05QUITO1733 | ECUADOR GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE OF USG UN AGENDA [...] ADCM and PolIntern met on July 20 with MFA under-secretary for Multilateral Affairs Miguel Mendez and Human Rights officer Maria Elena Moreira to convey points in reftels. Mendez indicated the GOE was generally supportive of the USG agenda for UN reform and the September High-Level Event, bu [...] |
2005-07-22 19:32:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV KUNR AORC EC UNSC |
| 05QUITO1734 | MORE FINANCIAL PRESSURE ON ECUADOR [...] (C) Summary. Opting for the path of least resistance, President Palacio issued a partial veto of the bill to refund social security (IESS) reserve funds, but proposed to refund the reserve funds anyway. The major immediate difference between the congressional bill and the Palacio proposal is [...] |
2005-07-22 19:56:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1736 | GOE REFUTES USG VIEWS ON BELGIAN FUNDING OF CUBAN [...] (C) ACDM made reftel points to MFA U/S for Bilateral Affairs Susan Alvear on July 22. 2. (C) Alvear countered our views with the "beggars can't be choosers" argument, saying that with USG and IFI assistance ever-shrinking, the GOE must turn to other donors to meet its social needs. It wa [...] |
2005-07-22 21:10:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID PHUM PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1741 | MEDIA REACTION: ECUADORIAN RELATIONS WITH [...] "Possible Accords with Venezuela," an opinion column (07/23) by Orlando Alcvar in Guayaquil's (and Ecuador's) center-right "El Universo" (weekend circ. 240,000) Quote: "Although Chavez's proposals are moved by the best intention, they also carry along an undeniable political ingredient th [...] |
2005-07-25 16:36:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL OPRC KIRC KPAO EC |
| 05QUITO1747 | PALACIO ANNOUNCES POLITICAL REFORM, RAISING HACKLES [...] (SBU) Summary: In a nationally televised address, President Alfredo Palacio has called for Congress to return from summer recess to hold an extraordinary session on July 26, to discuss political reforms he proposes be put to a popular referendum. Palacio made the reform proposal while also [...] |
2005-07-25 22:59:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM EC |
| 05QUITO1753 | MEDIA REACTION: ECUADORIAN RELATIONS WITH [...] "A Ghost Named Chavez," a column (07/25) by Grace Jaramillo in Quito's leading centrist "El Comercio" (circ. 70,000) Quote: "One week of debate over the pros and cons of associating with Chavez. . . about how the risk that getting closer to Chavez might distance us from the U.S., is evide [...] |
2005-07-26 19:45:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL OPRC KIRC KPAO EC |
| 05QUITO1778 | MEDIA REACTION: ECUADORIAN RELATIONS WITH [...] "Third Party's Policies," a column (07/28) by Rodrigo Fierro in Guayaquil's (and Ecuador's) leading center-right "El Universo" (circ. 140,000) Quote: ". . . the defense of our interests is taking us closer to the policies of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. . .The search for new alter [...] |
2005-07-29 13:19:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL OPRC KIRC KPAO EC |
| 05QUITO1786 | ECUADOR TILTING TOWARD SUPPORTING G-4 RESOLUTION [...] (C) The Italian Ambassador informed the Charge on July 29 that FM Parra had called him to discuss the G-4 resolution. After earlier saying the GOE would abstain, Parra now said that President Palacio had decided to support the G-4 resolution. Palacio's decision came after a call (date unspec [...] |
2005-07-29 19:11:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EC UNSC UNGA |
| 05QUITO1787 | PALACIO STUMBLES BUT RECOVERS AT 100 DAYS [...] (SBU) Summary: Tension generated by recent political missteps by President Palacio has been reduced over the past week thanks to Congressional restraint and the intervention of outsiders. Congress' recent votes in favor of the presidential veto on social security and returning his political [...] |
2005-07-29 19:54:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL AORC EC |
| 05QUITO1788 | ECUADOR: JULY LABOR UPDATE [...] Summary: Following are recent labor-related developments of interest: -- MOL Discusses Labor Reform Plan (para. 2) -- Four Agreements Reached on Labor (4) -- MOL Working With Limited Budget (5) -- Congress Working on Subcontracting Law (6) -- Social Security Reserve Funds To Be Returned ( [...] |
2005-08-01 14:59:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO179 | SUPPORTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY REPORT [...] (U) We are submitting the following information in response to the request for the 2004 Supporting Human Rights and Democracy Report (reftel). On January 25, Post emailed the version with tracked changes to DRL/PHD. 2. (U) Although Ecuador enjoys a democratically elected government that gen [...] |
2005-01-25 17:23:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1799 | BOTH CONCERN AND INDIFFERENCE GREET UNESCO'S [...] Summary. Meeting in Durban, South Africa in July, UNESCO's World Heritage Committee addressed deteriorating conservation efforts in the Galapagos National Park and Marine Reserve. Regretting the lack of attention given to the Galapagos by the GOE, the Committee called for United Nations Edu [...] |
2005-08-03 18:46:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV EAID ECON EFIS ETRD PGOV AORC EC UN |
| 05QUITO1802 | MEDIA REACTION: VENEZUELA [...] No summary [...] |
2005-08-03 21:53:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL OPRC KIRC KPAO EC |
| 05QUITO1803 | NATIONAL PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS: TIP A TOP PRIORITY [...] On August 2, President Alfredo Palacio devoted a section of his televised national address (septel) to trafficking in persons (TIP), declaring his government's "priority to combat TIP, exploitation, and underage prostitution." He publicized the penal code reforms that criminalize trafficking [...] |
2005-08-03 22:00:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1804 | PALACIO SNUBS VENEZUELAN FM [...] (C) Summary: FM Antonio Parra, acting without the President's knowledge or consent, reportedly arranged an August 3 lunch for President Palacio with Venezuelan FM Ali Rodriguez. Palacio only found out about the invitation the evening of August 2 from his adviser Luis Herreria and quickly ca [...] |
2005-08-03 22:22:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC VE |
| 05QUITO1817 | ECUADOR: GITMO TALKING POINTS DELIVERED [...] (C) Charge delivered talking points in reftel A to Palacio on August 3 during a private session with the President (reftel B). Palacio promised to review them. 2. (C) Guayaquil PolOff and Quito PolIntern delivered talking points in reftel A to MFA Subsecretary for Bilateral Affairs Aleja [...] |
2005-08-05 18:48:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | KISL KPAO PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1818 | PALACIO REVIEWS HIS FIRST 100 DAYS [...] (SBU) Summary: Highlighting his proposed reform package as the means to realize his vision for Ecuador in the year 2020, President Palacio made his fourth televised address to the nation on August 2. Domestic themes and the president's beloved universal health care scheme dominated the speec [...] |
2005-08-05 18:48:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1841 | MEDIA REACTION: ECUADOR RELATIONS WITH [...] No summary [...] |
2005-08-10 21:03:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL OPRC KIRC KPAO EC |
| 05QUITO1884 | MEDIA REACTION: ECUADOR RELATIONS WITH [...] No summary [...] |
2005-08-15 21:58:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL OPRC KIRC KPAO EC |
| 05QUITO1924 | ECUADOR ENGAGEMENT IN HAITI UNWAVERING [...] (SBU) PolChief conveyed reftel points urging continued Ecuadorian military support for the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) to VFM Marcelo Fernandez de Cordova on February 17. 2. (SBU) Fernandez said he would not attend the vice-ministerial meeting in Santiago August 19; the G [...] |
2005-08-17 23:27:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL KPKO MARR HA EC |
| 05QUITO1926 | PRES. PALACIO ON NEW AMB. TO U.S., REPLACEMENT FM [...] (C) Summary: President Alfredo Palacio told the Charge that he would name career diplomat Luis Gallegos Chiriboga to be Ecuador's Ambassador to the U.S. shortly. He also said he intended to replace FM Parra with another career Ecuadorian and UN diplomat, Diego Cordovez. End Summary. 2. [...] |
2005-08-17 23:37:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR EC |
| 05QUITO1931 | PRES. PALACIO CONSIDERS, THEN REJECTS VISIT TO CUBA [...] (C) Summary. On August 17, President Palacio shared with Charge his inclination to attend a ceremony in Havana for graduating Ecuadorian medical students on August 20. Doing so would boost his international standing, he said, offering Latin America an alternative regional leader to Hugo Chav [...] |
2005-08-18 12:40:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR CU EC |
| 05QUITO1976 | SOME MOVEMENT TOWARD POLITICAL REFORMS [...] (SBU) Summary: The process of selecting a new Supreme Court is moving forward, with assistance from the UN, OAS, and others. The government's parallel effort to formulate a political reform referendum based on citizen input is back on track, after an initial wobble. The OAS is receiving USG [...] |
2005-08-22 23:07:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO1978 | PALACIO: I NEED YOUR HELP [...] (C) Summary: In a meeting with Charge on August 22, President Palacio asked for U.S. assistance with the international financial institutions to ensure that Ecuador could meet its October financing requirements. He expressed frustration with unrest in the oil patch and with the intelligence [...] |
2005-08-23 00:26:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON EFIN VE EC |
| 05QUITO20 | WHO WILL LEAD ECUADOR'S CONGRESS? [...] (U) SUMMARY: January 5 marks the mid-point of the congressional term in Ecuador; on that date, legislators will elect a president, two vice presidents, and the membership of 18 committees to lead Congress until January 2007. The presidential race, pitting opposition (ID) and pro-government [...] |
2005-01-04 15:21:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO2008 | FM PARRA TO CARACAS SOCIAL CHARTER EVENT, NOT TO [...] (C) PolChief conveyed reftel points to acting MFA U/S for Multilateral Affairs, Carmen Larrea on August 24. 2. (C) Larrea confirmed that FM Parra would attend the August 28 OAS Social Charter event in Caracas. 3. (C) According to Larrea, the GOE is in accord with the U.S. position tha [...] |
2005-08-26 13:24:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | KSUM SOCI PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO2013 | MEDIA REACTION: PAT ROBERTSON'S STATEMENT [...] No summary [...] |
2005-08-26 20:20:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL OPRC KIRC KPAO EC |
| 05QUITO2022 | MEDIA REACTION: VENEZUELA; PAT ROBERTSON'S [...] . "Pact with Venezuela - Let's Get Going," a column (08/29) in Guayaquil's conservative "El Telegrafo" (circ. 8,000) "The fiscal situation has been deteriorating for quite some time now. The fundamental cause is the huge amount of money allotted in the budget for the so called service of [...] |
2005-08-30 16:56:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL OPRC KIRC KPAO EC |
| 05QUITO2049 | SCANDAL TARNISHES PALACIO GOVERNMENT [...] (C) Summary: President Palacio has moved quickly to stem the damage caused by a widening forgery and position-selling scandal by firing implicated advisors inside the office of the presidency. Coming on the heels of damaging strikes, the scandal has weakened the Palacio government's image [...] |
2005-09-02 14:18:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO2057 | A FIRST MEETING WITH PALACIO [...] (C) Summary: In their first substantive discussion, President Palacio told the Ambassador that he sees himself as a counterweight to Venezuela's Chavez; that he intends to take a hard line to keep civil order in Ecuador; that he believes the international financial institutions (IFIs) will s [...] |
2005-09-02 19:41:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EFIN ECON VE EC |
| 05QUITO2060 | AMBASSADOR MEETS GOVERNMENT MINISTER GANDARA [...] (C) Summary: The Ambassador paid a courtesy call on Minister of Government Mauricio Gandara on September 1. Gandara, a lightning rod for growing criticism of the Palacio government, made light of the chorus of calls for his impeachment. In a cordial and wide-ranging discussion, Gandara bla [...] |
2005-09-02 20:23:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR EC |
| 05QUITO2064 | TFUS01: PRESIDENT PALACIO OFFERS HURRICANE [...] President Alfredo Palacio spoke with the Ambassador on September 2 to express GOE condolences and reiterated the GOE's willingness to send a boatload of bananas to the U.S. to aid victims. He named Agriculture Minister Pablo Rizzo as the GOE point person for Hurricane Katrina relief. 2. [...] |
2005-09-05 18:35:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | AEMR EAID PREL EC |
| 05QUITO2065 | ECUADOR OPEN TO SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS ALTERNATIVE [...] (SBU) Summary: The GOE's representative at the September 7-9 Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG) meeting in Buenos Aires told us the GOE shares USG concern over progress of the declaration and agrees that a leaders statement may be a necessary alternative. End Summary. 2. (SBU) M [...] |
2005-09-06 16:07:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO2088 | AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH FM PARRA [...] (C) Summary: In an initial office call, the Ambassador thanked FM for the GOE's generous offer of disaster assistance to the U.S., and requested patience while international assistance offers are considered. She urged dialogue with Colombia to resolve important bilateral issues and promote [...] |
2005-09-08 16:43:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EAID ECON EC UNGA |
| 05QUITO2092 | MUSICAL CHAIRS MOVES INTO HYPERSPEED: TRADE TO [...] (C) Summary: Minister of Commerce Oswaldo Molestina told Ambassador he would be designated as the new Minister of Government (police, security forces, congressional relations) late on September 8. One of his deputies, Jorge Illingworth, would take over as Minister of Commerce and Manuel Chir [...] |
2005-09-08 23:48:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ECON PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO2100 | GALAPAGOS PARK MANAGEMENT: ONE STEP FORWARD; TWO [...] Summary. In a move that strengthens the directorship of the Galapagos National Park (GNP), the GOE has established a transparent and independent selection process for park directors. But this positive move is undermined by a parallel resolution by SENRES -- the national technical secretaria [...] |
2005-09-09 17:08:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV EAID ECON EFIS ETRD PGOV PREL AORC EC |
| 05QUITO2101 | ECUADOR - AVIAN AND PANDEMIC INFLUENZA [...] No summary [...] |
2005-09-09 17:57:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR EAID ECON KSCA PREL SOCI TBIO EC |
| 05QUITO2110 | ALIEN SMUGGLERS COULD FACE HARSHER PENALTIES IN [...] Summary: The Ecuadorian Congress could pass by year,s end new legislation that stiffens prison sentences for alien smugglers, permits seizure and liquidation of convicted smugglers' properties and nullifies debt instruments for victims' payments to smugglers. The GOE renewed its interest i [...] |
2005-09-13 12:02:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV PREL SMIG EC |
| 05QUITO2114 | GOE CONSIDERS REQUEST TO SUPPORT IRAQI CONSTITUTION [...] (U) PolOff delivered RefTel points on September 7 to MFA Secretariat for Bilateral Relations Officer, Alejandro SIPDIS Davalos, requesting that the GOE make a public statement in support of Iraqi political advances, and consider ways the GOE can assist with the independent electoral commis [...] |
2005-09-13 15:55:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO2115 | UNGA: MFA MIFFED OVER USG APPROACH TO OUTCOME [...] (SBU) PolOff delivered RefTel points on September 12 to MFA Director for Multilateral Affairs, Miguel Mendez, communicating USG openness to international opinions on the UN High Level Event Outcome Document, while encouraging GOE officials to be flexible during negotiations. Mendez said that [...] |
2005-09-13 16:03:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL EC UNGA |
| 05QUITO2116 | ECUADOR SUPPORTS IAEA REFORMS [...] (SBU) PolOff delivered RefTel points on September 12 to MFA Director for Multilateral Affairs, Miguel Mendez, congratulating the GOE for its work on establishing the IAEA Committee on Safeguards and Verification and requesting GOE views on organizational and substantive issues related to the C [...] |
2005-09-13 16:57:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KNNP AORC TRGY ENRG PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO2127 | CIVAIR COMMUNITY EAGERLY AWAITS NEW GPS PROCEDURE [...] Summary. Global Positioning System (GPS) procedures for Quito's Mariscal Sucre airport are close to becoming a reality. GOE civil aviation regulators, the airlines, and the Quito Airport all see positive benefits to introducing GPS procedures. Benefits include preventing frequent weather-r [...] |
2005-09-15 14:45:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO2129 | MINISTER OF LABOR WILL WORK TOWARDS LABOR REFORM [...] (SBU) Summary: In a September 14 meeting, the Ambassador told Minister of Labor Galo Chiriboga that the FTA offered the best opportunity for labor rights protection in Ecuador. Chiriboga agreed that Ecuador needed a more modern labor code and the International Labor Organization (ILO) must be [...] |
2005-09-15 16:29:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO2132 | COLOMBIAN AMBASSADOR CONCERNED ABOUT ECUADOR [...] (SBU) Summary. Colombian Ambassador Carlos Holguin Molina told the Ambassador on September 13 that his government is concerned about deteriorating bilateral relations with the Palacio government. The impending exit of FM Parra would help, but likely not resolve the festering dispute over ae [...] |
2005-09-15 16:31:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV CO EC |
| 05QUITO2152 | GOE STILL NOT CONVINCED ON UNSC REFERRAL FOR IRAN [...] (SBU) PolOff faxed RefTel points on September 15 and followed up with a telephone call on September 19 to MFA Director for Multilateral Affairs, Miguel Mendez, requesting that the GOE consider referring Iran to the UN Security Council. PolOff mentioned that the Secretary had raised this issu [...] |
2005-09-19 20:35:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KNNP PARM PREL IR EU MNUC IAEA |
| 05QUITO2184 | GALAPAGOS: PROGRESS ON ALTERNATIVES TO COMMERCIAL [...] Summary. Despite lackluster efforts by the GOE, the search for sustainable alternatives to commercial fishing in the Galapagos is progressing. Projects initiated by USAID and NGOs are beginning to generate new economic opportunities that could reduce the pressure on extractive fishing pract [...] |
2005-09-23 15:10:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV EAID EFIS ECON PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO2191 | ID LEADERS SUPPORT PALACIO'S REFORM EFFORTS [...] (SBU) Summary: In initial office calls on President of Congress Wilfredo Lucero and Quito Mayor Paco Moncayo, the Ambassador discussed prospects for political reform. Both Moncayo and Lucero were emphatic that Palacio needed support for his reform agenda, echoing the sentiments of other le [...] |
2005-09-23 21:43:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR PREL EC |
| 05QUITO2193 | BACKGROUND ON NEW ECUADORIAN FOREIGN MINISTER [...] Summary: (SBU) Francisco Carrion Mena, who has been tapped to replace Foreign Minister Antonio Parra, comes to the job with a history of leftist leanings, but with a solid background as a career diplomat and a good relationship with the United States. Carrion, the current ambassador to Spain, [...] |
2005-09-23 22:30:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV PINR EC |
| 05QUITO2207 | IMPROVING ECUADOR-COLOMBIA RELATIONS [...] (C) Summary: Communication and relations between President Palacio and President Uribe remain good, highlighted by recent GOE action against the FARC here. But the GOE continues to insist that aerial spraying of pesticides be suspended along the border while a new study is prepared. Palaci [...] |
2005-09-27 21:04:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO2223 | CONGRESS DEBATES REFERENDUM QUESTIONS [...] (SBU) Summary: Minister of Government Oswaldo Molestina sent an initial draft of referendum questions to Congress on September 27. Congress are currently wading through the text of 17 proposed questions designed to probe citizens' opinions on everything from limiting campaign advertisements [...] |
2005-09-28 23:09:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO2235 | DEMOCRACY PROMOTION STRATEGIES FOR ECUADOR [...] (SBU) Summary: With serious democratic deficiencies fueling political and economic instability in Ecuador, we welcome the Department's enhanced emphasis on democracy promotion and its decision to include Ecuador among countries to receive priority attention. After engaging all elements of t [...] |
2005-09-29 21:02:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL KDEM EC |
| 05QUITO224 | JANUARY TIP UPDATE [...] (U) Summary: There have been encouraging signs from the Congress that pending trafficking in persons (TIP) legislation may pass by the end of February. The American Bar Association (ABA) reviewed its suggested changes to the bill with the Embassy and has presented them to key congressional c [...] |
2005-01-27 20:45:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO2241 | NEW GOVERNMENT MINISTER AN IMPROVEMENT [...] (C) Summary: On September 26, the Ambassador discussed pending political reforms with new Minister of Government Oswaldo Molestina. She also enlisted Molestina's continued support for the successful conclusion of an FTA and new leadership combating trafficking in persons (TIP). President [...] |
2005-09-30 15:33:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR EC |
| 05QUITO2244 | ECUADOR OPEN TO SUA NON-PROLIFERATION AMENDMENTS [...] (SBU) MFA Director of Sovereignty Office Helena Yanes responded to RefTel points on September 30. Yanes said that Ecuador agrees in principle to the dangers related to high seas transport of dual-use items, but is not ready to commit regarding criminalization. That decision will likely be i [...] |
2005-09-30 19:38:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KNNP MNUC PARM PREL KTIA PHSA EWWT EC |
| 05QUITO2288 | ENVIRONMENT MINISTER CONFRONTS ILLEGAL LOGGERS [...] Summary: Minister of Environment Anita Alban took to the forest on October 1st to investigate illegal logging. The inspection, which revealed criminal activities, has yet to generate any concrete judicial response. Alban's decision to confront loggers takes place amid rumors that she will be [...] |
2005-10-07 16:21:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV EAID ECON PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO2359 | GUTIERREZ RETURNS TO JAIL, PALACIO SOWS UNCERTAINTY [...] (C) Summary: Ex-president Lucio Gutierrez returned to Ecuador on October 14 and was promptly arrested and incarcerated in Quito. Perhaps more destabilizing was an announcement the same day by President Alfredo Palacio proposing a national constituent assembly over congressional opposition. [...] |
2005-10-18 15:17:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL EC |
| 05QUITO236 | ANOTHER DEFECTION FROM GUTIERREZ'S INNER CIRCLE? [...] (C) SUMMARY: Tired and forlorn, Presidential Legal Advisor and close Embassy contact Carlos Larrea informed Poloffs January 27 that President Lucio Gutierrez was feeling growing pressure from legislative allies for cabinet and policy changes. The PRE party sought ministerial positions from [...] |
2005-01-28 22:12:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KCOR KDEM PREL PHUM EC |
| 05QUITO2386 | ECUADOR LABOR UPDATE [...] Summary: Following are recent labor-related developments of interest: -- MOL Currently Acting MinGov (para. 2) -- ILO to Draft Labor Code Reform (3) -- National Labor Council to Discuss Subcontracting Law (4) -- MOL to Hire More Child Labor Inspectors (5) -- Banana Workers Fired For Union [...] |
2005-10-20 16:22:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO2405 | CAMPAIGN AGAINST SHARK FIN TRADE TARGETS PUBLIC [...] Summary: On October 17 Environmental NGOs initiated a new campaign to conserve the dwindling shark population in Ecuadorian waters. Sharks are highly sought after for the price their fins bring on international markets. Lax enforcement has hampered efforts to reduce shark fishing, despite an [...] |
2005-10-21 21:31:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV EAID EFIS ECON PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO2409 | PALACIO'S ASSEMBLY PROPOSAL BLOCKED BY TRIBUNAL [...] (C) Summary: The rejection of President Palacio's referendum proposal to convoke a national constituent assembly by the electoral tribunal was swift and has forced the GOE to reevaluate its options to promote reform. Signals from Congress are mixed, with some calling for new talks with the P [...] |
2005-10-21 22:43:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINS EC |
| 05QUITO2416 | TRANSFORMING ECUADOR: ACTION PLAN FOR DEMOCRACY [...] (SBU) Ecuador is one of the most unstable, undemocratic, and corrupt countries in Latin America. Its political and economic systems, based on competition by entrenched elites for lucrative state-provided economic privileges, threaten U.S. interests directly where they impinge on U.S. anti-nar [...] |
2005-10-24 21:48:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KDEM PGOV ECON EAID EC |
| 05QUITO2439 | INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT KEY TO SUPREME COURT [...] Summary: A new Ecuadorian Supreme Court is expected to be in place by late November, but the work will not end when the selection commission seats new justices. Jose Antonio Viera, a Chilean Senator appointed by the OAS to monitor Ecuador's Supreme Court selection process, told the Ambassad [...] |
2005-10-26 19:13:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINS EC |
| 05QUITO2440 | CONGRESS OFFERS, AND PALACIO RESISTS, ASSEMBLY [...] (C) Summary: President of Congress Wilfredo Lucero met with President Alfredo Palacio October 24 to relay lawmakers' support for a constitutional assembly, but not a more powerful constituent assembly as favored by Palacio. The constituent assembly -- intended for times of complete governmen [...] |
2005-10-26 19:29:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PINS EC |
| 05QUITO2442 | CONGRESS OFFERS, AND PALACIO RESISTS, ASSEMBLY [...] (C) Summary: President of Congress Wilfredo Lucero met with President Alfredo Palacio October 24 to relay lawmakers' support for a constitutional assembly, but not a more powerful constituent assembly as favored by Palacio. The constituent assembly -- intended for times of complete governmen [...] |
2005-10-26 22:13:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINS KDEM EC |
| 05QUITO2454 | INADEQUATE CIVIL DEFENSE SYSTEM NEEDS REPAIR [...] (U) Summary: Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and a propensity for flooding can cause widespread destruction in Ecuador and call for a robust emergency response system. Despite this fact, Ecuador's Office of Civil Defense (CD) remains unprepared for the possibility of a natural disaster. Atte [...] |
2005-10-28 15:47:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AEMR EAID PGOV SENV TPHY EC |
| 05QUITO2461 | LETTER FROM PRESIDENT PALACIO TO PRESIDENT BUSH [...] The Ambassador received a letter from President Palacio to President Bush dated October 27 on October 27. The original will be sent via pouch to WHA/AND. 2. Text of Letter from President Palacio: Most Excellent President and friend: I have the honor of addressing Your Excellency with [...] |
2005-10-28 18:16:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV OPDC EC |
| 05QUITO2463 | PALACIO CONSIDERS COMPROMISE, CONGRESS APPEALS TO [...] (C) Summary: President Alfredo Palacio told the Ambassador on October 27 that he was considering sending a new referendum proposal to Congress which would allow voters to decide between constituent and constitutional assemblies to make political reform. The Ambassador urged strict adherence [...] |
2005-10-28 19:16:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL EC |
| 05QUITO2464 | ECUADOR REQUESTS USG ACTION ON WTO EU BANANA [...] (SBU) Summary: The GOE and Ecuadorian businessmen are urging the USG to press the EU to abide by WTO decisions regarding EU banana tariffs and quotas. During an October 25 meeting with the Ambassador, GOE Minister of Trade Jorge Illingworth requested that the USG urge the EU to abide by the [...] |
2005-10-28 20:45:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAGR ETRD AORC PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO2480 | GOE OPEN TO HOLOCAUST RES., LESS SO ON ANTI-ISRAEL [...] (SBU) Summary: MFA U/S for Multilateral Affairs Mauricio Montalvo told DCM and PolChief that the GOE may be open to voting in favor of an Israeli-sponsored holocaust resolution, but that it would be more difficult to change its votes on other anti-Israeli resolutions. He expressed appreciati [...] |
2005-10-31 21:58:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL IS EC UNGA |
| 05QUITO2499 | GOE REJECTS IRANIAN REMARKS, CONSIDERING STATEMENT [...] PolChief, British DCM Peter Evans, and PolOff delivered RefTel points on November 1 to Ambassadors Rafael Veintimilla and Marco Samaniego of MFA Bilateral Relations, requesting that the GOE publicly reject President Ahmadi-Nejad's call to "wipe Israel off the map." Veintimilla said that the GO [...] |
2005-11-04 14:37:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PREL EC |
| 05QUITO2506 | AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH MFA [...] (C) Summary: In her initial meeting with Foreign Minister (FM) Francisco Carrion on November 1, the Ambassador reaffirmed the importance of respecting constitutional bounds for reform, urged the MFA to revitalize the GOE inter-ministry working group on TIP, and reminded the FM that the GOE,s [...] |
2005-11-04 18:06:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL EC |
| 05QUITO254 | ECUADOR: PROTESTS GROW, BUT GOVERNMENT STABLE [...] (SBU) Summary: The political scene is heating up again here, as pressure mounts on the government to reverse the overhaul of judicial institutions by the Ecuadorian congress. The opposition is preparing a major protest march in Quito for February 17. President Gutierrez' proposed referendum [...] |
2005-02-01 21:13:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO2546 | GOE SUPPORTS IRAN RESOLUTIONS [...] (SBU) PolChief delivered RefTel points on November 8 to Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs Mauricio MontalvoPer RefTel request, PolChief stressed the USG's hope that the GOE vote for the resolution on Iran's human rights record. After clarifying that the Third Committee resolution deals [...] |
2005-11-09 22:20:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PHUM EC UNHRC |
| 05QUITO2573 | GOE STUDIES PERU MARITIME CLAIMS [...] (C) Summary: The Peruvian Congress' recent passage of maritime border legislation affecting Chile (Ref A) has sparked intense review by the GOE of the issue. Thus far, the GOE's official response has been cautious and measured, maintaining that the Peruvian measure does not affect the Ecuad [...] |
2005-11-10 22:06:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO2574 | MFA PLANS FOREIGN POLICY DIALOGUE [...] (SBU) Summary: FM Carrion has announced his intention to develop a foreign policy strategy for 2005-2020. He intends to build support for the strategy through a series of topical seminars over the coming year. End Summary. 2. (SBU) PolChief and PolOff met on November 8 with Ambassador J [...] |
2005-11-10 22:10:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL MARR CO PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO2577 | GOE REQUESTS GENETIC RESOURCES CONTRACT FROM [...] Summary. The GOE has denied an American research company the right to publish data drawn from research on the biodiversity of microbial communities in the Galapagos Islands. The Ministry of Environment (MOE) determined that Venter Institute, which had obtained official permission to enter Ec [...] |
2005-11-10 22:22:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV ECON ETRD KIPR PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO2578 | PROCURADOR'S INVOLVEMENT IN OXY AND OTHER MATTERS [...] (C) Summary: At Occidental Petroleum's (Oxy) and the GOE's request, EconOffs met with Ecuador Solicitor General (Procurador General) Jose Maria Borja November 7, to lay the groundwork for Borja's buy-in to the ongoing discussions between Oxy and members of the GOE. Recently, Oxy has had its m [...] |
2005-11-10 22:50:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ECON PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO2607 | IRAN: GOE AGAINST NO ACTION, FAVORS UNSC REFERRAL [...] (C) The DCM delivered RefTel points on November 15 to MFA U/S for Multilateral Affairs Mauricio Montalvo, requesting GOE support in opposing the no action motion against the pending human rights resolution on Iran. The DCM stressed the importance of maintaining the Third Committee's credibil [...] |
2005-11-15 22:17:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM EC UNHRC |
| 05QUITO263 | BANANA EXPORTERS CONTEST PROPOSED EU TARIFF [...] Summary. On January 26, Quito hosted a meeting of representatives from seven Latin American banana- exporting countries who oppose a recent European Union decision to impose a 230 Euro (US$ 300) per metric ton tariff on banana imports beginning in January 2006. The presidents of Guatemala, [...] |
2005-02-02 16:06:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD EAGR PGOV KDEM EC |
| 05QUITO2652 | INDIGENOUS MARCH IN QUITO AGAINST FTA [...] (U) Summary: Approximately 1,000 indigenous from the provinces participated in mobilizations on November 16 and 17 organized by indigenous organization CONAIE against the free trade agreement (FTA) and the US-owned Occidental petroleum company, and in favor of a constituent assembly. Protest [...] |
2005-11-21 16:30:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PREL ETRD EC FTA |
| 05QUITO2653 | GALAPAGOS CALM, FOR NOW [...] Summary. Fishermen questioning the GOE's sincerity in finding economic alternatives for their sector walked out of a meeting of the Galapagos Inter-institutional Management Authority (AIM) on October 31. Recent progress bringing the fishing sector back into a productive dialogue on Galapagos [...] |
2005-11-21 16:30:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV EAID EFIS ECON PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO2662 | COLOMBIA OFFERS OLIVE BRANCH ON SPRAYING [...] (C) Summary: Ecuadorian Vice FM Diego Ribadeneira and Colombian Vice FM Comilo Reyes met in Quito on November 17 to review key bilateral issues for the December 7 ministerial meeting. As predicted, the meeting primarily focused on northern border security issues including migration, refugees [...] |
2005-11-21 21:45:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MOPS PTER SNAR CO EC |
| 05QUITO2673 | ECUADOR - AVIAN AND PANDEMIC INFLUENZA [...] Per reftel, post is providing the following information regarding the GOE's efforts to control Avian Influenza (AI) and its capability to respond to an influenza pandemic. The answers are keyed to reftel questions. A) PREPAREDNESS/COMMUNICATION -- The GOE began working on a preparedness [...] |
2005-11-21 21:45:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | TBIO SENV EAGR EAID ECON PREL EC |
| 05QUITO2677 | FORMER SPANISH PRESIDENT AZNAR PROMOTES TRADE AND [...] (SBU) Summary: Former Spanish PM Aznar told the Ambassador on November 22 that the situation in Latin America is not good, and faulted the USG and Spain, the two countries with the most influence in the region, for lacking a plan to counter rising populism. Aznar was in Quito at the invitati [...] |
2005-11-21 21:45:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV ETRD PREL PINR EC |
| 05QUITO2678 | ECUADOR TO COOPERATE ON ANTI-SMUGGLING CASES [...] (U) Summary: Ecuador's top officials committed to working with U.S. law enforcement authorities to slow illegal immigration and put alien smugglers behind bars during a November 16-18 visit by DOJ prosecutors and DHS agents. The visit came just days after Ecuadorian police arrested a couple a [...] |
2005-11-25 12:31:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | KCRM PHUM PREL SMIG PBTS PGOV |
| 05QUITO2683 | COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR TRANSPORTATION SECURITY [...] Post welcomes and grants country clearance to Transportation Security Administration personnel Ismael C. Mike Galvan to Quito, Ecuador December 7-9, 2005 to attend exit briefings with host government and airport officials as a follow-up to the TSA airport assessment at Guayaquil. Embassy POC i [...] |
2005-11-25 20:37:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR |
| 05QUITO2685 | COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR FAA PERSONNEL - LORNA L. JOHN [...] Post welcomes and grants country clearance to Lorna L. John, Senior Attorney, International Affairs and Legal Policy Division, AGC-7, FAA, to Quito, Ecuador from November 28, 2005 - December 3, 2005, to review pending aviation law with the civil aviation authority. Embassy POC is Econ Officer [...] |
2005-11-21 19:32:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | OTRA ASEC EAIR |
| 05QUITO2699 | ECUADOR ELECTIONS, ONE YEAR OUT [...] (SBU) Summary: Presidential and congressional elections are currently scheduled for October 2006, with a second round the following month. President Palacio's efforts to allow voters to decide by referendum between a constitutional or a special national assembly to make fundamental changes [...] |
2005-11-28 17:34:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KDEM PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO2706 | SUPREME COURT SELECTED, FIRST STEP IN DEMOCRATIC [...] (SBU) Summary: Achieving a major democratic milestone and goal of the mission's democracy support strategy (RefTel), on November 28 a new, more independent Supreme Court was named unanimously by the special selection committee, permitting an inauguration ceremony to take place on November 30 [...] |
2005-11-29 15:09:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KJUS PREL EC OAS |
| 05QUITO2715 | ECUADOR: MONITORS FOR BOLIVIAN ELECTIONS [...] (C) PolOff delivered RefTel points on November 29 to MFA Director of Bilateral Affairs Rafael Veintimilla. GOB diplomats declined our invitation to jointly deliver the points, but asked that we share the outcome. Veintimilla said that the GOE is supportive of the need to see Bolivia strengt [...] |
2005-11-30 15:26:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO2724 | MFA'S COOLER HEADS ON COLOMBIA, PERU [...] (C) Summary: Vice Foreign Minister Diego Ribadeneira told the Charge on November 30 that FM Francisco Carrion would like to pay an official visit to Washington in January or February. Ribadeneira, who took office in October when Carrion replaced outgoing FM Antonio Parra, highlighted the im [...] |
2005-11-30 22:29:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL EC |
| 05QUITO2725 | UN CRITICIZES ECUADOR'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD [...] (SBU) Summary: The UN Committee Against Torture, which oversees countries' compliance with the Convention Against Torture, recently publicly announced that Ecuador needs to adopt a clear definition of the crime of torture and ensure investigation and punishment for acts of torture. The repor [...] |
2005-11-30 22:30:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR PREL PHUM EC |
| 05QUITO2729 | GALAPAGOS TOURISM GROWTH A DELICATE BALANCE [...] Summary: Plans to expand tourism opportunities on the Galapagos island of Isabella are creating new economic alternatives for local fishing communities but raising the worst fears of conservationists. On November 10-12, a well- received USAID-led ecotourism project on Isabella brought togethe [...] |
2005-12-01 15:26:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV EAID EFIS ECON PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO2737 | ECUADOR - INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT BLOCKAGE A DOMESTIC [...] Summary. The blocking of international telephone traffic from the United States to Ecuador over the past 18 months has less to do with the negotiating tactics referred to in reftel than with local political and economic interests. In Ecuador, the blocking of circuits to impede the termination [...] |
2005-12-01 21:15:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ECPS ECON ETRD EINV EC |
| 05QUITO2743 | TERRORIST FINANCING COORDINATING OFFICER [...] In response to reftel, Post,s Terrorist Finance Coordination Officer (TFCO) is DCM Jefferson Brown, telephone number 593-2-256-2890 ext. 4420. His unclassified email address is brownjt2@state.gov. The Deputy TFCO is Economic Officer Donn-Allan Titus, telephone number 593-2-256-2890 ext. 446 [...] |
2005-12-02 13:14:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | KTFN PTER EFIN ETTC KVPR PREL EC |
| 05QUITO2746 | ECUADOR-CHILE: PRESIDENTS SIGN JOINT DECLARATION [...] Summary: During a six hour visit to Ecuador on December 1, Chile's President Ricardo Lagos and President Alfredo Palacio signed seven bilateral agreements and issued a declaration on maritime limits between South American countries on the Pacific. The declaration echoed statements made by b [...] |
2005-12-02 17:18:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PREL EC |
| 05QUITO2747 | ECUADOR LABOR UPDATE [...] Summary: Following are recent labor-related developments of interest: -- ILO Advisors to Ecuador Named (para. 2) -- Ambassador Highlights Labor Concerns (3) -- Additional Child Labor Inspectors Hired (4) -- Newspapers Highlight Child Labor (5) -- Banana Labor Dispute Update (6) -- Number [...] |
2005-12-02 17:19:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO2748 | PRESIDENT PUSHES "PLAN B" FOR REFERENDUM [...] (C) Summary: After being rebuffed by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal and Congress, President Palacio on December 1 announced he had issued a decree ordering the Supreme Electoral Tribunal to hold a referendum on January 22. The referendum would ask voters whether to convoke a national assem [...] |
2005-12-02 19:58:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL EC |
| 05QUITO2750 | ECUADOR REVIEW REGARDING TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD [...] (C) In response to reftel request, Post provides the following information regarding trade and other relations between Ecuador and Cuba. Trade between the two countries is not extensive. In 2004, Ecuador exports to Cuba, mostly oil, totaled $14,437,920 (CIF) and Ecuadorian imports from Cuba [...] |
2005-12-02 20:48:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD PREL CU EC |
| 05QUITO2762 | Ecuador Focused on TIP [...] Summary: Ecuadorian leaders have recently shown renewed vigor in their effort to battle trafficking in persons and help trafficking victims. Under the direction of Ecuador's First Lady, Maria Paret de Palacio, the government-funded child and family welfare agency INNFA is leading the charge. [...] |
2005-12-07 21:18:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO2765 | GOE LETTERS TO SECRETARY RICE AND USTR PORTMAN [...] No summary [...] |
2005-12-08 13:39:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD EAGR PREL EC WTO |
| 05QUITO2795 | ENGAGING ECUADOR ON BOLIVIA [...] (C) Summary: The DCM expressed USG concerns about the potential effects of upcoming Bolivian elections with Vice Foreign Minister Diego Ribadeneira, who offered his personal views on the subject. End Summary. 2. (U) After expressing USG concerns about the potential for destabilizing eff [...] |
2005-12-08 22:10:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL BO EC |
| 05QUITO280 | ECUADOR FAVORING CHILEAN FOR OAS SYG [...] In response to Ref A, Ambassador discussed the upcoming OAS Secretary General election during her February 3 meeting with Ecuador President Lucio Gutierrez. Gutierrez mentioned that former El Salvador President Paco Flores, whom the United States backed for the OAS position, would soon visit [...] |
2005-02-04 13:45:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC PREL EC ES |
| 05QUITO2814 | FIRST LADY: CABINET SHAKEUP COMING SOON [...] (C) Summary: First Lady Maria Paret de Palacio called on the Ambassador on December 9 to share President Palacio's intended Cabinet changes in advance of a public announcement which she implied was imminent. The First Lady said Palacio wished to assure the USG that Alfredo Castillo, his choi [...] |
2005-12-09 23:02:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL ECON EC |
| 05QUITO282 | GUTIERREZ (AGAIN) RECONSIDERING AMBASSADORIAL [...] (C) Despite Lucio Gutierrez informing a nationwide TV audience January 3 that MFA diplomat Roberto Betancourt was his choice to head Ecuador's embassy in Washington (Ref A), the Ecuadorian president is now having second (actually, third) thoughts. At their February 3 meeting, Gutierrez told [...] |
2005-02-04 14:38:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO2822 | ECUADOR-COLOMBIA TALKS ADVANCE ON BROAD RANGE OF [...] (C) Summary: The meeting between FM Francisco Carrion and his Colombian counterpart Carolina Barco which took place here on December 7 is being touted by the GOE and the Colombian Embassy here as a success. Both governments committed to increasing security measures along the border region, [...] |
2005-12-12 19:37:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR MOPS MASS SNAR PTER EC CO |
| 05QUITO2836 | ECUADOR RE-ENTERS BOND MARKET [...] Summary. Ecuador successfully placed about $650 million in bonds on December 7, marking its first return to the private international finance market since its 1999 default. According to Minister of Economy and Finance Magdalena Barreiro, Ecuador will use the proceeds to buy back higher price [...] |
2005-12-13 18:31:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN ECON EINV EC |
| 05QUITO2841 | MEDIA REACTION: ANDEAN FREE TRADE [...] "Peru's Decision on the FTA," an editorial (12/10) in Quito's leading centrist "El Comercio" (circ. 70,000) Quote: " . . . let's hope that Peru's decision and the upcoming Colombian one serve as an alert as to the huge risk [involved] in being left on the margins of neighbors that accept [...] |
2005-12-14 19:39:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL OPRC KIRC KPAO EC FTA |
| 05QUITO2852 | ECUADOR 2006 NATIONAL TRADE ESTIMATE REPORT DRAFT [...] No summary [...] |
2005-12-15 16:01:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECON EFIN EINV EAGR EC FTA |
| 05QUITO2854 | 2005-2006 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY [...] No summary [...] |
2005-12-15 19:57:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR PGOV EFIN KJUS KCRM KHLS KTFN EC |
| 05QUITO2861 | A TALE OF TWO TELECOMS: ANDINATEL AND STEP-CHILD [...] (SBU) Summary. Established when the GOE broke up former state telecom Emetel in 1997, Pacifictel and Andinatel have taken divergent paths since their formation. While Andinatel has transformed itself into a profitable enterprise with a new corporate culture, an overstaffed and undeveloped Pa [...] |
2005-12-15 21:37:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ECPS ECON EIND EINV EC XR |
| 05QUITO2862 | ECUADOR - CIVAIR PROGRESS? [...] (U) Summary. After lengthy delays, the GOE finally is making some progress on bilateral Civair issues. Within the span of one week, Ecuador's civil aviation legislation moved closer to congressional vote and the Aviation Council approved the GOE's renewal of its Bilateral Civil Aviation Agre [...] |
2005-12-15 21:40:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO2863 | ECUADOR: PALACIO SWEARS IN TWO NEW CABINET MEMBERS [...] (U) Summary: On December 14, President Alfredo Palacio swore in Alfredo Castillo Bujase as the new Minister of Government (the fourth person to hold this post since Palacio took office in April). Acting Minister of Government Galo Chiriboga returned to his previous post as Minister of Labor. [...] |
2005-12-15 22:53:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR PREL EC |
| 05QUITO2866 | ECUADOR: 2005 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM [...] Embassy Quito's contribution to the 2005 Country Report on Terrorism report follows, keyed to questions in Reftel (paras 7-10). Embassy POC is PolOff Jarahn Hillsman, 593-2-256-2890 ext 4471, unclass email Hillsmanjd@state.gov, classified email Hillsmanjd@state.sgov.gov, fax 593-2-254-0712. [...] |
2005-12-16 17:50:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PGOV KJUS MARR CASC ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO2876 | MEDIA REACTION: BOLIVIAN ELECTIONS AND [...] "Evo Morales' Logic" editorial (12/16) in Quito's leading centrist "El Comercio" (circ. 70,000) Quote: ". . . Evo Morales is leading the polls; he won't make it in the first round and probably some parliamentary alliance will choose his opponent. Thus, in the revolutionary Latin American l [...] |
2005-12-16 23:10:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL OPRC KIRC KPAO EC |
| 05QUITO2886 | MEDIA REACTION: BOLIVIA; IMMIGRATION [...] "Evo or not Evo," a column (12/12) by Grace Jaramillo in Quito's leading centrist "El Comercio" (circ. 70,000) Quote: "Difficult, extreme dilemma. Bolivian democracy seemed to have been strengthened with the semi-parliamentary political scheme where no elected president could be sworn in [...] |
2005-12-19 18:50:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL OPRC KIRC KPAO EC |
| 05QUITO2889 | Results Report: Andean Parliamentarian [...] Summary: Participants reported that the trip provided excellent insight into how democracy functions in the US, the role of multilateral institutions and impressions of Latin America. They were particularly struck by the influence and independence of the Congress and the US system of checks [...] |
2005-12-19 22:03:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | SCUL KPAO OEXC EC |
| 05QUITO289 | ECUADOR'S ECONOMY: DOING WELL FOR THE WRONG REASONS [...] Summary: Despite chronic political instability, Ecuador's economy continues to hum along to the tune of high oil prices, increased oil exports, dollarization (and the resultant stability and low inflation), and responsible fiscal policies. In 2004 the GOE paid down its international debt a [...] |
2005-02-04 15:47:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD ENRG EAID PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO2890 | Results Report: ITT "Trafficking in [...] Summary: The two participants reported the trip was extremely useful and well-designed, and generated many ideas they hope to implement in Ecuador. Though the U.S. has far greater resources, the participants felt that the root problem is the same and the methods for dealing with the issue are [...] |
2005-12-19 22:09:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | SCUL KPAO OEXC EC |
| 05QUITO2892 | Results Report: Sub-regional IV program [...] Summary: Esmeraldas Mayor Ernesto Estupinan found the program on "Transparency and Good Governance" to be useful overall, but noted that the program lacked focus on issues of direct relevance to mayors. He felt this was a significant weakness, and that future programs should include meetings [...] |
2005-12-19 22:18:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | SCUL EC KPAO OEXC |
| 05QUITO2903 | MEDIA REACTION: BOLIVIA; QUITO [...] "Latin American Trend," an editorial (12/20) in Guayaquil's (and Ecuador's) leading center-right "El Universo" (circ. 140,000) Quote: "Ten years ago, Bolivia was showcased by the IMF and the World Bank as the model, the recommended recipe from the Washington Consensus. the Bolivians radic [...] |
2005-12-20 20:02:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL OPRC KIRC KPAO EC |
| 05QUITO2907 | OPIC FINANCE INQUIRY RESPONSE ON MICROFINANCE [...] No summary [...] |
2005-12-21 13:49:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EINV EFIN ECON EC |
| 05QUITO2920 | REINVIGORATING PUBLIC DIPLOMACY CULTURAL AND SPORTS [...] Embassy Quito submits the following information requested in reftel re "Reinvigorating Public Diplomacy Cultural and Sports Programs." Responses are keyed to reftel. 2. Question A: Which Mission objectives benefit from cultural programs or could be better supported by cultural programs [...] |
2005-12-22 20:20:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO OEXC SCUL EC |
| 05QUITO2925 | MEDIA REACTION: TRADE; QUITO [...] "WTO: Discriminatory Globalization," an editorial (12/22) in Quito's leading centrist "El Comercio" (circ. 70,000) Quote: ". . .although it is ironic from the perspective of underdeveloped countries, an agreement was reached, or better still a circumstantial way out so that eight years f [...] |
2005-12-23 16:59:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL OPRC KIRC KPAO EC |
| 05QUITO2938 | MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE ON FTA, EU BANANA TARIFF [...] SUMMARY: In a December 15 courtesy call on Minister of Agriculture Pablo Rizzo, Ambassador Jewell stressed that Ecuador would need to improve its agricultural proposals in the FTA negotiations. Rizzo stated that Ecuador wants to sign an FTA with the United States but is still looking for excep [...] |
2005-12-27 16:25:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR ETRD ECON EAID EC FTA |
| 05QUITO2970 | PALACIO APPOINTS FOUR NEW MINISTERS [...] (U) Summary: Following weeks of speculation, President Palacio on December 29 named new economic, education, health and housing ministers. The most significant change to USG interest is the naming of flower sector businessman Diego Borja as Minister of Economy and Finance, replacing Magdalen [...] |
2005-12-30 14:30:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR ECON EFIN PREL EC |
| 05QUITO346 | NOTES ON NEW ECUADORIAN AMBASSADOR TO UN [...] (SBU) Summary: The Ambassador and DCM met with newly-named Ecuadorian Ambassador to the UN, Jaime Moncayo Garcia, to express USG interest in a collaborative relationship at the UN. Separately, PolChief raised deep USG concerns over a Mexican human rights initiative (RefTel). Moncayo express [...] |
2005-02-11 22:21:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV CU MX EC CHR |
| 05QUITO364 | ECUADOR FAVORING INSULZA, EMBASSY PROMOTING FLORES [...] The Ambassador and El Salvador's envoy to Ecuador, Rafael Alfaro, approached GoE FM Patricio Zuquilanda February 2 to promote Fernando Flores's OAS SYG candidacy (Ref B details Flores-specific portions of the Ambassador's most-recent call on Ecuadorian President Gutierrez). Employing points s [...] |
2005-02-15 18:47:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC PREL EC |
| 05QUITO369 | AMBASSADOR VISITS COASTAL CITY HOSTING FIRST U.S. [...] Summary: During a two-day trip to the northern coastal city of Esmeraldas, the Ambassador visited with local officials and highlighted the positive impact of U.S. assistance on the province. Our emphasis on both security and development resonated, even in a city dominated by the far-left Pe [...] |
2005-02-15 22:44:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL MOPS PHUM KWMN EC |
| 05QUITO370 | ECUADOR'S NEW AMB-DESIGNATE TO U.S. CONFIRMED: [...] (C) Summary: Former Finance Minister Mauricio Pozo has been offered and has accepted the position of Ambassador to the United States, according to reliable sources. We expect to received a request for agrement for Pozo during the week of February 21. Pozo is well and favorably known to the [...] |
2005-02-15 22:58:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO377 | ECUADOR NOT RUNNING FOR ECOSOC [...] (C) PolOff met with MFA Director for Human Rights Julio Prado on February 15 and conveyed talking points encouraging Ecuador to continue its candidacy for ECOSOC and the Commission on the Status of Women. Prado said Ecuador's term on ECOSOC ended on December 31, 2004. After analyzing the iss [...] |
2005-02-16 17:28:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL CU EC UNGA |
| 05QUITO385 | GOE FTA TEAM GETS USG MESSAGE ON LABOR REFORM, [...] (SBU) Summary: Trade Minister Ivonne Baki expressed newfound GOE commitment to ILO-consistent labor reform to the Ambassador after returning from the recent Cartagena FTA round. In subsequent meetings with the GOE's negotiators, we were encouraged by the GOE's willingness to explore reform [...] |
2005-02-16 20:44:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB PGOV EC FTA |
| 05QUITO391 | ECUADOR ON CWC: NATIONAL AUTHORITY IN PLACE, [...] In response to Reftel, the Embassy February 15 delivered non-paper to Ruben Herrera, the Technical Agencies representative in the MFA's Multilateral Affairs directorship general. In a follow-up telcon February 17, Herrera refuted a Reftel assertion, claiming Ecuador had in fact established i [...] |
2005-02-17 17:18:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM ABUD ES EC AROC CWC CBW OPCW |
| 05QUITO400 | ECUADOR "STILL STUDYING" NPT STRENGTHENING [...] In response to Reftel, the Embassy delivered non-paper to Ruben Herrera, the Technical Agencies officer in the MFA's Multilateral Affairs directorship general. In a follow-up telcon February 17, Herrera stated the Foreign Ministry could not yet comment on the U.S. proposal to beef up Nuclear [...] |
2005-02-17 19:57:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM KNNP EC NPT IAEA |
| 05QUITO401 | CONSOLIDATING SUPPORT FOR HAITIAN ELECTIONS [...] On February 15, PolOffs delivered a non paper on consolidating support for Haitian elections (Reftel) to Paulo Moreno, the head of the MFA's UN Affairs office, as well as to MFA Human Rights Director General Julio Prado. On February 17, Moreno told PolOff that the GOE considers promoting st [...] |
2005-02-17 19:59:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL HA XL EC UNSC |
| 05QUITO414 | ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: A LONG-TERM PROBLEM IN THE [...] Summary. While the conservation, tourism, and fishing sectors in the Galapagos may disagree on the best use of natural resources in the archipelago, they do agree on one thing - that illegal immigration is the most serious threat to long-term sustainability in the Galapagos. Every sector wi [...] |
2005-02-18 15:26:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID ECON ETRD EFIS PREL PGOV SENV SMIG EC |
| 05QUITO417 | PROTEST MARCH SPURS DIALOGUE ON COURT ISSUE [...] (SBU) The peaceful February 16 protest march (reftel) has spurred new debate over whether to reverse Congress' packing of the judiciary in December, and has prompted alternative proposals to resolve the festering court controversy. Protest groups led by Quito mayor Paco Moncayo have announced [...] |
2005-02-18 19:34:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO418 | ATTACK ON JESUITS ANOTHER SELF-INFLICTED FIASCO [...] (C) SUMMARY: The GoE's Social Welfare Ministry (MBS) February 10 ordered "dissolved and liquidated" the Mariana de Jesus Foundation (FMJ), a Quito-based, Jesuit-operated charitable organization. Days later, Ministry staff and police attempted to physically take possession of the FMJ facilit [...] |
2005-02-18 20:45:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM EC |
| 05QUITO42 | MFA WINS PRESIDENT'S EAR; BETANCOURT TO WASHINGTON [...] (U) This telegram contains an action request; please see Paragraph 4. 2. (C) President Lucio Gutierrez, in January 3 comments to Ecuador's Channel 1 television, revealed his candidate to head the GoE's embassy in Washington: Roberto Betancourt, currently the MFA's subsecretary (U/S equiv [...] |
2005-01-06 19:48:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO434 | ANOTHER MINISTER OF GOVERNMENT PACKS BAGS [...] SUMMARY: Long expected, Minister of Government Jaime Damerval quit February 21, citing as reasons his disagreements with President Lucio Gutierrez over the manner and scope of political reform in Ecuador. As a political lightning rod and vocal enemy of the opposition, especially the Social [...] |
2005-02-22 21:44:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO468 | PRESIDENCY MINISTER WORKING TO KEEP GOE ON TRACK [...] (S) Summary: On February 25 CDA followed up on earlier calls to GOE presidential minister Carlos Polit to assure that the GOE took action to keep FARC suspects in custody. Polit assured the CDA that the GOE would do so, and understood the importance for GOE anti-terrorist cooperation. On ot [...] |
2005-02-25 23:12:00 | Embassy Quito | SECRET//NOFORN | PTER PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO484 | BIO INFO FOR NEW GOE GOVERNMENT MINISTER [...] (U) On February 22, President Lucio Gutierrez swore in former Secretary General for the Administration Xavier Ledesma as his new minister of government, replacing Jaime Damerval, who resigned a day before (Reftel). He is the fifth person to hold this cabinet position since Gutierrez assumed [...] |
2005-02-28 22:12:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PHUM EC |
| 05QUITO490 | SUBMISSION FOR 2005 TIP REPORT [...] Summary: Ecuador continues to take steps to combat trafficking in persons (TIP). Since issuing a presidential decree in August 2004, the government has drafted a national plan, increased public awareness of the problem, and reached out to source and destination countries. The GOE has coope [...] |
2005-03-02 12:15:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | KCRM PHUM KWMN ELAB SMIG ASEC KFRD PREF |
| 05QUITO491 | CNIES UPDATE: REQUESTING A ONE-MONTH REPRIEVE [...] (C) Embassy Quito seeks a one-month delay before the USG disables the CNIES system -- in whole or in part -- in Ecuador. 2. (C) In recent weeks, we have seen the Ecuadorian Air Force (FAE) CNIES-energized, and worry that "flipping the switch" now could be counter-productive to negotiation [...] |
2005-03-02 12:40:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | SNAR MOPS PREL EC EARI |
| 05QUITO515 | GOE SUPPORTS UNGA ANTI-CLONING RESOLUTION [...] (U) In response to Reftel, the Embassy March 2 transmitted anti-human cloning points and draft UNGA resolution to the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry's Multilateral Affairs subsecretariat and the Vatican Embassy. In a follow-up telcon March 3, MFA Director General for Human Rights Carmen Larrea [...] |
2005-03-04 16:41:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | TBIO EC |
| 05QUITO520 | ECUADOR: ILO DEMARCHE DELIVERED [...] LabOff conveyed reftel talking points urging support for fiscal restraint on the ILO's proposed budget for 2006-2007 to Dr. Miguel Mendez, MFA's Director General for Multilateral Affairs, on March 1, and to Minister of Labor Raul Izurieta on March 2. On March 3 Izurieta told us our points wer [...] |
2005-03-04 22:09:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC ELAB EC |
| 05QUITO534 | A DEFENSIVE GUTIERREZ BLASTS CRITICS [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Lucio Gutierrez feels justified in criticizing Ecuador's political opposition, calling his public rebuttals valid tit-for-tat. "If I don't respond to their allegations," he told the Ambassador March 7, "the people will believe them." Gutierrez attributed opposition e [...] |
2005-03-08 21:58:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO536 | AMBASSADOR PROTESTS ATTACKS ON CIVIL SOCIETY [...] (SBU) The Ambassador on March 7 expressed concern to President Lucio Gutierrez about the latest in a series of attacks on civil society groups, involving the Ecuadorian NGO "Citizen Participation" (PC), an AID democracy program grantee. Gutierrez claimed not to be aware of the incident, a h [...] |
2005-03-08 22:20:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM KDEM EC |
| 05QUITO537 | SOCIAL CHARTER: GOE WORRIED OVER VENEZUELA'S ROLE [...] At a March 8 working lunch with MFA Subsecretary (U/S equivalent) for Multilateral Affairs Jose Piedrahita, Poloffs raised Reftel preoccupation over Venezuelan attempts to hijack the proposed OAS Social Charter. The USG fully supported efforts to establish said document and sought hemispheri [...] |
2005-03-08 22:41:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | SOCI EC OAS |
| 05QUITO54 | PRE'S QUINTANA ELECTED NEW CONGRESS PRESIDENT [...] (U) Summary: Congressman Omar Quintana, of the Ecuadorian Roldosista Party (PRE), was elected President of Congress on January 5 after receiving 52 votes from members of the government's "progressive alliance." Opposition deputies abandoned the session after failing to elect their preferred [...] |
2005-01-07 20:38:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM EC |
| 05QUITO540 | GUTIERREZ TAKES REINS ON GALAPAGOS [...] Summary. President Gutierrez convoked a March 4 meeting with donors and other political players in the Galapagos (Reftel). Gutierrez struck a surprisingly balanced tone in his remarks, calling for a sustainable solution to the Galapagos crisis that provides economic alternatives to local fi [...] |
2005-03-09 18:45:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID ECON EFIS ETRD PGOV PREL SENV EC |
| 05QUITO551 | ECUADOR: ILO ENGAGED ON LABOR REFORM [...] Summary: After letting a GOE request languish for months, the ILO recently stepped up to offer to help the GOE make progress on labor law reform. The ILO's regional director recently visited Quito and offered to contract an expert to help the GOE identify and address workers rights gaps in [...] |
2005-03-10 17:20:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO553 | MARCH 4 VISIT TO ECUADOR OF ADOLFO FRANCO, AA/LAC [...] SUMMARY: ADOLFO FRANCO, USAID ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN, AND MARGARITA GUERRA, SPECIAL ASSISTANT, VISITED QUITO ON MARCH 4 TO MEET WITH U.S. MISSION MANAGEMENT TO DISCUSS LAC PRIORITIES AND USAIDS PROGRAM IN ECUADOR. HIS VISIT INCLUDED EVENTS WITH PARTNERS, M [...] |
2005-03-10 18:42:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID EC ECON EFIS ETRD PGOV PREL SENV |
| 05QUITO557 | EXTRA MILE AWARD [...] No summary [...] |
2005-03-10 21:12:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | AFIN |
| 05QUITO558 | DHS ESCORTED REMOVAL #312 [...] Post welcomes and grants Country Clearance to Robert Margist, Security Clearance: Confidential, and Scott Mechkowski, Security Clearance: Confidential, to Quito, Ecuador from March 20, 2005 to March 20, 2005 as Escort Removal Officers. Hotel reservations have been made HQ ICE DROS. Cost of roo [...] |
2005-03-10 23:04:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ASEC AMGT |
| 05QUITO559 | LATEST FARC COMMUNIQUE SMACKS OF PAYBACK [...] (C) SUMMARY: A FARC communique that essentially threatened President Lucio Gutierrez "to keep his end of the bargain or else" hit Ecuadorian presses March 10. Early reactions were as expected: the GoE dismissed the remarks out-of-hand, while a handful of consulted ex-Ecuadorian military re [...] |
2005-03-10 23:15:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SNAR PTER EC CO |
| 05QUITO560 | REQUEST FOR COUNTRY CLEARANCE - CARACAS [...] No summary [...] |
2005-03-11 13:31:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AMGT OTRA ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO561 | REQUEST PERMISSION TO TRAVEL - CARACAS [...] Request permission to travel to Caracas, Venezuela, on holidays from Wednesday, March 23, through Saturday, March 26, 2005. Itinerary follows: Wed, Mar 23, depart Quito at 1010 via Santa Barbara S31323 Wed, Mar 23, arrive Caracas at 1400 Sat, Mar 26, depart Caracas at 1630 [...] |
2005-03-11 13:31:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AMGT APER ACOA OTRA EC |
| 05QUITO562 | LESSONS LEARNED - CRISIS MANAGEMENT EXERCISES - [...] Embassy Quito and Consulate General Guayaquil recently participated in FSI sponsored Crisis Management Exercises. Embassy Quito participated in the Crisis Management Overview training on 02/28/05 and the CME on 03/01/05. Consulate General Guayaquil participated in the Crisis Management Overv [...] |
2005-03-11 13:49:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | AEMR CASC ASEC AFSI KCOM OTRA KESS EC |
| 05QUITO563 | COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR JOSE REYES [...] Post welcomes and grants Country Clearance to Jose Reyes, PPQ Officer, Laredo, Texas to Guayaquil and Puerto Bolivar from March 2 to March 6, 2005 to vessel certification. POC in Quito is Esteban Espinosa, APHIS Specialist, APHIS (Embassy: 593-2-2549848, Cel: 593-9-497- 7133). Please read t [...] |
2005-03-11 15:16:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR |
| 05QUITO566 | VISAS VIPER: FEBRUARY 2005 MONTHLY ACTIVITY [...] No summary [...] |
2005-03-11 18:11:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | KVPR CVIS PTER ASEC PINR EC IT |
| 05QUITO57 | US SERVICE MARKET ACCESS PRIORITIES IN ECUADOR [...] No summary [...] |
2005-01-07 21:57:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD WTO |
| 05QUITO585 | COURT SAGA CONTINUES, PROSPECTS IMPROVE [...] (SBU) Summary: There are signs that the three-month crisis over the packing of the Supreme Court is nearing resolution. On March 8, President Gutierrez submitted a simplified referendum proposal to Congress. The opposition had favored a law to immediately terminate the current Supreme Cour [...] |
2005-03-14 22:06:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KJUS PREL EC |
| 05QUITO586 | INDIGENOUS ORGANIZATIONS FOCUSED INWARD [...] Summary: Our outreach efforts confirm the impression that major indigenous groups are focused inward for the moment. None joined the Quito anti-government marches on February 16, leaving that to Pachakutik, the political party associated with CONAIE. This does not signify a break between C [...] |
2005-03-14 22:19:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO589 | ECUADOR'S WAVE OF VIOLENCE: POLITICAL ROOTS? [...] Summary: Almost a dozen prominent opponents of the GOE have been victims of assaults since February 2004. The attacks have taken place in two waves; the latest began in December 2004, and the frequency of violence has increased over the past two months. Ecuador recently agreed to the Organ [...] |
2005-03-15 16:07:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM KDEM ASEC PTER EC |
| 05QUITO590 | OPENING ADDITIONAL ARTICLE 98 FRONTS [...] (C) DEAL REMAINS FAR OFF: With Guinea-Bissau's February 2 signing, 99 countries have reached Article 98 agreements with the United States. Regrettably, we doubt it's Ecuador that cracks the century mark. Despite our numerous and varied overtures, the GoE continues to consider Article 98's [...] |
2005-03-15 16:59:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SNAR PTER EC CO KICC |
| 05QUITO592 | ECUADOR,S NEW ENVIRONMENTAL MINISTER MORE [...] (SBU) Summary. President Gutierrez named Juan Carlos Camacho as the new Minister of the Environment on February 24, replacing the beleaguered Fabian Valdivieso. Camacho has no real environmental experience and was given the position to assuage the block of independent congressmen who hold the [...] |
2005-03-15 18:26:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID ECON EFIS ETRD PGOV PREL EC SEVN |
| 05QUITO596 | ECUADOR'S RESPONSE TO ILO DEMARCHE [...] Minister of Labor Raul Izurieta telephoned LabOff on March 15 to respond to a non-paper the Embassy had delivered on March 2 (reftels). Izurieta said he had seen a summary of the ILO's proposed budget for 2006-2007. He did not comment on the organization's budget, but hopes that the ILO will [...] |
2005-03-15 18:52:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC ELAB EC |
| 05QUITO599 | AMBASSADOR LAUNCHES CHILD LABOR PROJECT AND VISITS [...] Summary: On March 11, the Ambassador went to Cayambe, a flower-producing area north of Quito, to attend the inauguration of a U.S. Department of Labor-sponsored project to combat child labor in the banana and flower industries through an improved quality of education. The Ambassador then pai [...] |
2005-03-15 19:51:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB PHUM EC |
| 05QUITO60 | GOE NOTES USG CONCERN OVER SUPREME COURT CHANGES; [...] (C) Summary: MFA U/S for Multilateral Affairs and the GOE's designate for Ambassador to the U.S., Roberto Betancourt, invited the DCM to his office on January 10 to inquire about recent statements by the Embassy spokesman. The DCM stood by the statements as an accurate reflection of USG conc [...] |
2005-01-10 22:54:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO601 | OXY - PROCURADOR RENEWS CONTRACT NULLIFICATION [...] (C) Summary. Ecuador's Procurador March 14 once again called for the nullification (caducity) of Occidental Petroleum's (Oxy) contract and seizure of Oxy's assets. We told GOE Presidential Advisor Carlos Larrea (as we had other GOE officials numerous times before) that the USG would react v [...] |
2005-03-15 22:32:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD EINV EPET ECON EC |
| 05QUITO61 | GOVERNMENT MINISTER SHARES (BIZARRE) VIEWS [...] (C) Summary: In a December 7 tour d'horizon with the Ambassador and DCM, Government Minister Jaime Damerval expressed willingness to cooperate to combat trafficking in persons. He also shed (sometimes disturbing) light on his thinking on a range of other issues, including the drug war, the [...] |
2005-01-10 22:57:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO611 | PROCURADOR BORJA PRONOUNCES ON OXY CASE [...] (SBU) Summary. Procurador General Borja met with Embassy officers on March 16 and explained his position on Occidental Petroleum (Oxy). Borja stated that the caducity (contract nullification and nationalization of Oxy's assets) and arbitration issues should be treated separately. He did not [...] |
2005-03-16 22:15:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD EINV EPET ECON EC |
| 05QUITO618 | REQUEST FOR DOS REVIEW OF POST-VETTED UNIT OF EC [...] This is an action message - please see paragraph 4. 2. The Embassy has developed plans to train members of Ecuador's 19th Jungle Brigade (HQ in Coca), 25th Special Forces Group (Esmeraldas), 11th Marine Infantry Battalion (San Lorenzo), and 13th Infantry Brigade (Machachi). Bio informatio [...] |
2005-03-17 20:05:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL EC KICC |
| 05QUITO650 | UN ENVOY'S VISIT: ALL POTATOES, NO MEAT [...] SUMMARY: Attempting to spur dialog toward an eventual solution to Ecuador's ongoing court crisis, UN Rapporteur Leandro Despouy visited Quito March 13-18 for a series of meetings with pro-government forces, political opposition, and third-party actors. Great expectations surrounded Despouy' [...] |
2005-03-22 22:12:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV KDEM KCOR EC |
| 05QUITO652 | EMBASSY LOBBYING HARD FOR CUBA RESOLUTION [...] (C) Summary: We understand the critical need for Ecuador to support the UNHRC resolution on Cuba and the impact every country has on the outcome. Historically Ecuador has abstained on the issue of Cuba. The GOE is politically unstable and considers Cuba a sensitive issue. Given the situat [...] |
2005-03-22 23:09:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM CU EC CHR |
| 05QUITO654 | ECUADOR,S CIVAIR AUTHORITY HAS NO PROBLEM WITH [...] (SBU) Per Reftel, EconOff talked with GOE,s Director General of Civil Aviation, Raphael Davila, about Continental Airline,s desire to change its designation routes to Ecuador. Davila said he had no problem with it and agreed that the designation agreement of 1996 did not specify exact route [...] |
2005-03-23 12:22:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR KTIA PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO661 | GUTIERREZ TO CARACAS: WILL HE OR WON'T HE? [...] (U) SUMMARY: For a month the Embassy has heard rumors that Ecuador President Lucio Gutierrez would travel to Caracas and meet Hugo Chavez. Confirmation has proved difficult, however; Gutierrez himself swears the trip dates have slipped until autumn. END SUMMARY. 2. (U) Guayaquil's El U [...] |
2005-03-23 16:59:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EC VE |
| 05QUITO664 | ATTY GEN'L DEBATE UNLEASHES WILD RIDE IN CONGRESS [...] SUMMARY: March 22 witnessed political mischief-making that far exceeded the (already high) Ecuadorian norm, with the battle for control of the Attorney General's office joining the conflict over the Supreme Court as principal catalysts. President Gutierrez and his PRE allies, cognizant that [...] |
2005-03-23 21:32:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO666 | CNIES UPDATE: ECUADOR DISMISSES STOCK TEXT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Attempting to dissipate confusion and spur movement on CNIES negotiations, Embassy officers called on Ecuadorian Air Force (FAE) leaders March 22 and worked through the USG boilerplate line-by-line. The FAE remains convinced, however, that current agreement language does not re [...] |
2005-03-23 22:41:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | SNAR MOPS MASS PREL EC EARI |
| 05QUITO667 | SOME PROGRESS ON OXY [...] (C) Summary The Procurador has, perhaps inadvertently, helped to create some momentum toward resolution of Occidental Petroleum's (Oxy) disputes with the GOE (reftel). Washington and Embassy efforts to move the parties to negotiate seem to also be paying some dividends. Still, PetroEcuador Pr [...] |
2005-03-25 22:05:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EINV ETRD EPET ECON EC |
| 05QUITO680 | GUTIERREZ SAYS NO TO CARACAS TRIP [...] (C) SUMMARY: E... id: 29636 date: 3/28/2005 21:35 refid: 05QUITO680 origin: Embassy Quito classification: CONFIDENTIAL destination: 05QUITO661 header: This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. ----------------- header ends [...] |
2005-03-28 21:35:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EC VE |
| 05QUITO681 | OXY: PRESSING THE GOE TO NEGOTIATE [...] (SBU) Summary. Ambassador met March 28 with President Gutierrez to urge him to allow time for the parties to negotiate a solution to Occidental Petroleum's (Oxy) problems in Ecuador. The DCM phoned newly appointed commercial dispute czar with the same message. Econoffs also met with the Min [...] |
2005-03-28 21:36:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV EPET ETRD ECON EC |
| 05QUITO682 | PUSHING GUTIERREZ TO VOTE YES ON CUBA [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Lucio Gutierrez has assured that Ecuador will "no worse than" abstain on the upcoming UN Human Rights Commission resolution on Cuba. A yes vote appears a political Pandora's box, he believes, likely to unite and embolden his many detractors across the political spectru [...] |
2005-03-28 22:30:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM PGOV EC CU |
| 05QUITO705 | ECUADOR: MORE CHAOS IN CONGRESS [...] (C) Summary: Despite conciliatory overtures by President Gutierrez to resolve the Supreme Court issue, confrontation flared again in Congress on March 30 over the selection of a new Attorney General. The battle over the new Attorney General has temporarily crowded out debate over the Presid [...] |
2005-03-30 22:27:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KJUS EC |
| 05QUITO710 | ECUADOR'S WHITE GOODS POLICIES [...] Summary. In response to reftel, Emboffs met with newly appointed Vice Minister of Industries in the Ministry of Trade (MICIP) Jorge Illingworth and Ecuadorian Standards Institute (INEN) Director General Felipe Urresta to discuss white goods. Urresta had not, as he had offered to USTR, presen [...] |
2005-03-31 20:08:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD EINV ECON EC |
| 05QUITO719 | ECUADOR UPDATE FOR ATPA REPORT [...] Per reftel request, we provide the following information for the update to the ATPA report for Ecuador. A Microsoft word version of the information below has been sent separately via email to USTR. 2. Ecuador Population: 13,027,000 (2004 est.) National Product per capita: $1,447 (2004 e [...] |
2005-03-31 22:15:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD EINV ECON EAGR EC |
| 05QUITO720 | FM ZUQUILANDA TO ATTEND OAS SPECIAL SESSION [...] In a wide-ranging March 31 conversation with Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Patricio Zuquilanda (Septels), the Ambassador reiterated USG support for Paco Flores, the former El Salvadoran president and current OAS secretary general candidate. Understanding Ecuador had come out publicly in suppor [...] |
2005-03-31 22:56:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC PREL EC |
| 05QUITO721 | FM FIRM ON CUBA ABSTENTION, BUT WILLING TO TALK [...] (C) Summary: FM Patricio Zuquilanda indicated to the Ambassador on March 31 that the GOE will again abstain from voting on the upcoming U.S. resolution on human rights in Cuba. He also requested a meeting in Washington with Secretary Rice on the margins of the OAS extraordinary SIPDIS se [...] |
2005-03-31 22:57:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM CU EC CHR |
| 05QUITO729 | ECUADOR: EX-PRES BUCARAM CLEARED TO RETURN [...] (C) Summary: Supreme Court President Guillermo Castro absolved ex-president Abdala Bucaram of pending corruption charges on March 31, paving the way for Bucaram's return from self-imposed exile. Castro's order was immediately challenged, and will be appealed. Bucaram's supporters immediate [...] |
2005-04-01 17:14:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO733 | TOUR BOAT WITH 12 AMCIT EXCHANGE STUDENTS SINKS IN [...] Summary. At approximately midnight on March 18, 2005, the Galapagos tour boat Andardita capsized causing the twelve Amcit exchange students aboard and the five-member crew to abandon ship. All made their way to the Andardita,s dingy, which was cut loose before the ship sank, and were rescued [...] |
2005-04-01 21:04:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | CASC EC |
| 05QUITO744 | ECUADOR: STAYING THE COURSE [...] (C) Summary: Former president Abdala Bucaram's precipitous return to Ecuador has brought government stability issues again to the fore. Bucaram remains a government ally, but we believe the controversial decision by the Supreme Court President will provoke a reaction by the opposition aimed [...] |
2005-04-04 23:01:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO748 | CHAVEZ INFLUENCE SLIGHT, BUT GROWING [...] (U) SUMMARY: Separated by only a thousand miles and led by ex-colonels from similar backgrounds, Ecuador and Venezuela nonetheless aren't closest of friends. Commercial, cultural, and people-to-people ties are slight, compared to those of other near-neighboring countries. There is genuine d [...] |
2005-04-05 19:14:00 | Embassy Quito | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PGOV PTER EC VE ASEX |
| 05QUITO75 | GALAPAGOS NEW YEAR: NO CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION [...] Summary. Violent strikes, instability, disregard for conservation, and political expediency have plagued the Galapagos over the past year. Unfortunately, the New Year brought no cause for celebration. It now appears likely that the Minister of the Environment, Fabian Valdivieso, will open t [...] |
2005-01-12 16:30:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID ECON EFIS ETRD PGOV PREL SENV EC |
| 05QUITO750 | PRESIDENT AND FM TO TRAVEL TO ROME [...] President Gutierrez plans to travel to Rome with First Lady Ximena Bohorquez and Foreign Minister Patricio Zuquilanda on April 6 to attend funeral services for Pope John Paul II. Gutierrez will return to Ecuador on April 10. Zuquilanda will travel to Washington (for OAS SYG election) from Ro [...] |
2005-04-05 20:08:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO764 | ECUADOR: POLITICAL TEMPERATURE RISING [...] (C) Summary: Anti-government protests flared in Quito on April 5, continued on April 6, and are likely to continue April 7. Thus far the GOE has reacted with restraint, using tear gas to disperse protesters attempting to forcibly enter Congress. A national strike was convoked by the opposit [...] |
2005-04-06 23:14:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO773 | WELCOME TO ECUADOR, GENERAL MYERS [...] (U) On behalf of the Mission Ecuador team, General, please accept a hearty welcome to Ecuador. Into your three hour stop we have packed a bilat with GoE President Lucio Gutierrez, a press conference with your joint chief counterpart, and a working lunch with the Ecuadorian high command; the [...] |
2005-04-07 22:17:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PREL PGOV MASS MOPS SNAR PTER EC |
| 05QUITO779 | FINAL PUSH FOR GOE VOTE ON CUBA [...] (C) With the UN Human Rights Commission scheduled to vote on the Cuba resolution April 14 or 15, our campaign to swing Ecuador to "yes" has reached the home-stretch. In the last 10 days, Embassy efforts have included: -- Calling on GoE President Lucio Gutierrez (Ref B). Gutierrez promised [...] |
2005-04-08 21:56:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM PGOV EC CU |
| 05QUITO78 | EMBASSY MOTIVATES GOE TO MOVE FORWARD ON TIP [...] (U) Summary: In a meeting on January 7, Minister of Government Jaime Damerval expressed his commitment to fighting trafficking in persons (TIP) to the Ambassador and DCM. He subsequently convoked the first meeting of the GOE's interinstitutional committee. He also re-assigned the portfolio [...] |
2005-01-12 20:59:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO781 | ECUADOR: DIALOGUE UNDERWAY, STRIKE POSTPONED ONE [...] (C) Summary: The government and opposition appear closer than ever to resolving the Supreme Court issue. However, they may not achieve congressional passage of a measure to do so before April 13, the new start date for an indefinite strike in the capital and Azuay province. Still in play ar [...] |
2005-04-08 22:54:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO789 | CJCS VISIT SUPPORTS DEMOCRACY, IMPROVED MIL-MIL [...] (C) Summary: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Richard Myers' April 11 visit to Quito advanced bilateral relations with Ecuador by signaling our continued commitment to military cooperation, and supported our pro-democracy and pro-stability agenda at a sensitive moment. To President Gutierre [...] |
2005-04-12 18:35:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR MASS MOPS SNAR PTER EC CO |
| 05QUITO794 | ECUADOR: FACTS ON SUCCESSION AND STATE OF EMERGENCY [...] (C) Summary: With political instability a chronic problem in Ecuador, and in the face of imminent anti-government strike action, we are providing background information on constitutional provisions for a presidential declaration of a state of emergency and for presidential succession. The G [...] |
2005-04-12 22:04:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO795 | ECUADOR: DIALOGUE OVER; TIME TO STRIKE [...] (C) Summary: Congress tried but failed to pass legislation to resolve the Supreme Court issue on April 12. Quito opposition leaders will therefore try to close down the capital in protest, starting early on April 13. How long the "general strike" will last is not clear. The private sector [...] |
2005-04-12 22:56:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO796 | ECUADOR TO COMPLY WITH LIGHTER BAN ON U.S. FLIGHTS [...] Per Reftel, Ecuador's Director of Civil Aviation, Raphael Davila, was informed on March 10 of the TSA ban on all butane lighters within secure areas and on flights to and from the U.S. Davila said he already knew of the ban and that he would take the proper steps to ensure that the ban was en [...] |
2005-04-13 12:54:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR PTER EURN |
| 05QUITO797 | ECUADOR WILL ABSTAIN ON BELARUS AND CUBA, BUT NOT [...] (C) Summary: The GOE will vote against any no-action motion in Geneva, but will firmly abstain from voting on Belarus and Cuba resolutions, according to MFA officials. The only country-specific resolution the GOE will vote for relates to North Korea. End Summary. 2. (C) PolChief accompa [...] |
2005-04-13 12:54:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM BO CU EC |
| 05QUITO798 | OXY: SERIOUS DIALOGUE WITH GOE [...] (C) Summary. President Gutierrez's assignment of a close advisor to resolve commercial disputes seems to have energized GOE efforts. Ambassador and Embassy officials continue to encourage dialogue between the parties. Serious discussions and information trading represent the first real prog [...] |
2005-04-13 12:54:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EINV ETRD EPET ECON EC |
| 05QUITO799 | ECUADOR WILL ABSTAIN ON BELARUS AND CUBA, BUT NOT [...] (C) Summary: The GOE will vote against any no-action motion in Geneva, but will firmly abstain from voting on Belarus and Cuba resolutions, according to MFA officials. The only country-specific resolution the GOE will vote for relates to North Korea. End Summary. 2. (C) PolChief accompa [...] |
2005-04-13 12:54:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM BO CU EC |
| 05QUITO805 | ECUADOR: STRIKE FIZZLES, BACK TO DIALOGUE [...] (C) Summary: Strike activities organized by municipal and provincial leaders in the capital took place generally peacefully on April 13, but did not close the city as intended. Protests attracted far fewer participants than an earlier, February 16 protest march. Strike organizers claimed v [...] |
2005-04-13 23:12:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO808 | ECUADOR NONCOMMITTAL ON U.S. SUA CONVENTION [...] In response to Reftel, the Embassy April 12 transmitted non-paper and supporting talking points to the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry's Multilateral Affairs subsecretariat. In a follow-up telcon with Poloff April 14, MFA officer Doug Martinez noted Ecuador had yet to formulate a position on the [...] |
2005-04-14 17:09:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | KNNP EWWT MNUC PARM PGOV PHSA PREL EC |
| 05QUITO810 | ILO READY TO ASSIST WITH LABOR REFORM [...] (SBU) Summary: Minister of Labor Raul Izurieta tells us he is ready for an ILO-recommended labor consultant to come to Ecuador as soon as possible. ILO/Lima sent the MOL a report the week of April 4 outlining areas where Ecuadorian labor law does not fully comply with international labor st [...] |
2005-04-14 21:01:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO82 | ECUADOR LABOR UPDATE [...] Summary: Following are recent labor-related developments of interest: --President Calls Meeting to Discuss Labor Reform (para. 2) --Minimum Wage Negotiations (4) --Subcontracting Decree Deadline Extended (5) --Government Lay Offs (6) --Minister Claims Success (7) --Child Labor Update (8) [...] |
2005-01-13 16:00:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO834 | FM TAKES CREDIT FOR "SOFTENED" LATAM-ARAB [...] In a burst of braggadocio, Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Patricio Zuquilanda informed the Ambassador March 31 that the "USG had me to thank" for watering down the inflammatory declaration that would emerge from the May 10-11 summit of South American and Arab state leaders. The original draft, [...] |
2005-04-15 22:06:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PHUM ECON EFIN EC BR |
| 05QUITO835 | ECUADOR: PUBLIC DISGUSTED WITH POLITICIANS [...] (C) Summary: President Gutierrez missed an opportunity for conciliation after the opposition failed to turn great crowds out for the protest strike on April 13. His recent intemperate statements led the opposition to court (and nearly attract) PRIAN support for a new, blatantly partisan pr [...] |
2005-04-15 22:32:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO836 | ECUADOR: PRESIDENT DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY IN [...] (C) Summary: President Lucio Gutierrez declared an indefinite state of emergency in a national televised address at 21:30 local on April 15. Embassy personnel are accounted for and safe. Military units have not yet appeared in the streets, where spontaneous demonstrations sprang up to prot [...] |
2005-04-16 06:27:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO839 | GUTIERREZ CLAIMS EMERGENCY DECLARATION BANK-RELATED [...] (C) Summary. President Gutierrez April 15 declared a state of emergency, suspending the Supreme Court and certain constitutional rights of Ecuadorians (septel). According to GOE sources, one of the reasons given for the declaration was that the Ecuadorian Supreme Court was about to arrest di [...] |
2005-04-16 14:09:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EFIN PREL ECON EC |
| 05QUITO840 | ECUADOR STATE OF EMERGENCY: SITREP 2, 1300 HRS [...] (C) Summary: Demonstrations in Quito petered out early April 16. As of 0900, the city was calm, but police contacts report likely large gatherings commencing shortly after nightfall. The Ambassador reconvened the Country Team at 1000 hrs to discuss the situation on the streets, the safety [...] |
2005-04-16 19:32:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO841 | ECUADOR: STATE OF EMERGENCY PRECEDENTS [...] Summary: While President Gutierrez' recent declaration of a state of emergency has shocked some, it is not unprecedented. Since the return of democracy in 1979, over 60 state of emergencies have been declared for varying reasons, primarily in response to natural disasters. However, this is [...] |
2005-04-16 21:20:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO842 | ECUADOR: PRESIDENT ENDS STATE OF EMERGENCY [...] (C) Summary: President Lucio Gutierrez revoked the state of emergency declared on April 15 the following day. Anti-government citizen protests continued after the lifting of the emergency, though generally peacefully. The political situation here remains fluid--a special session of Congress [...] |
2005-04-17 19:54:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO848 | MEDIA REACTION: ECUADOR UNREST [...] "Go Home!" an opinion column (04/18) by Diego Araujo Sanchez in Quito's center-left "Hoy" (circ. 38,500) Quote: "The straw that broke the camel's back was the return of [ex-president] Abdala Bucaram; the capital has not forgotten his scandalous corruption nor the offensive shamelessness o [...] |
2005-04-18 22:14:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL OPRC KIRC KPAO EC |
| 05QUITO850 | EXHAUSTED GUTIERREZ JUSTIFIES EMERGENCY, OUTLINES [...] (C) SUMMARY: A fatigued President Lucio Gutierrez met with the Ambassador over breakfast April 18 and discussed the now-withdrawn state of emergency (Reftels) and his plans for reducing political temperatures. Gutierrez defended the April 15 decree, but claimed security conditions had improv [...] |
2005-04-18 22:19:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO852 | ECUADOR: POLITICAL SITUATION UPDATE [...] (C) Summary: The political situation remains fluid in the wake of President Lucio Gutierrez' lifting of the state of emergency. In an emergency session on April 17, Congress unanimously revoked its December 2004 reorganization of the Supreme Court and adjourned until April 19, when it is ex [...] |
2005-04-18 23:02:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO853 | UNESCO REPRESENTATIVE RECOMMENDS A TECHNICAL [...] Summary. The Director of UNESCO,s World Heritage Center, Francesco Bandarin, visited Ecuador to evaluate a new potential world heritage site (The Incan Andean Road) and assess the Galapagos World Heritage Site (WHS), in light of faltering conservation efforts under the Gutierrez administratio [...] |
2005-04-19 13:33:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID ECON EFIS ETRD PGOV PREL EC SEVN |
| 05QUITO854 | ECUADOR: POLITICAL SITUATION UPDATE [...] (C) Summary: The political situation remains fluid in the wake of President Lucio Gutierrez' lifting of the state of emergency. In an emergency session on April 17, Congress unanimously revoked its December 2004 reorganization of the Supreme Court and adjourned until April 19, when it is ex [...] |
2005-04-19 15:35:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO855 | STATE OF EMERGENCY: USG OUTREACH CRITICAL [...] (C) Summary: After the declaration of a state of emergency by President Gutierrez on the evening of April 15, Embassy Quito and Consulate Guayaquil, working with other USG colleagues, acted quickly to encourage GOE restraint and non-violence. The Mission team (including several Embassy sect [...] |
2005-04-19 17:33:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO856 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: EU PARTICIPATION AT UNESCO [...] PolOff delivered reftel points via Diplomatic Note on August 14 to Dack Martinez of the MFA's Office of Special Organizations. In a meeting on April 18, Martinez told PolOff that Ecuador, along with GRULAC, would oppose as improper the EU member states proposal to grant European Community en [...] |
2005-04-19 20:41:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL AORC SCUL EC |
| 05QUITO857 | ENGAGING THE DIPCORPS ON ECUADORIAN STABILITY [...] (C) SUMMARY: Representatives from Quito's largest foreign missions gathered April 18 to discuss the ongoing political crisis in Ecuador. UN Judicial Rapporteur Leandro Despouy, who visited Ecuador March 13-18 (Ref A), weighed in via conference call. As non-US diplomats here are wont to do, [...] |
2005-04-19 21:14:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM EC OAS |
| 05QUITO866 | ECUADOR WILL ABSTAIN ON GUANTANAMO RESOLUTION [...] (SBU) On April 19, PolOff conveyed reftel pertinent to Carmen Larrea in the MFA's Human Rights Office and requested the GOE oppose Cuba's resolution on Guantanamo. Larrea thanked us for sharing the draft resolution, and said the GOE will follow its well-established position of abstaining on [...] |
2005-04-20 15:34:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM EC UNHRC EUN |
| 05QUITO868 | ECUADOR: POLITICAL SITUATION UPDATE [...] (C) Summary: Following a night of persistent protests centered on the Presidential Palace, in which one journalist died, the situation in Quito remains extremely volatile. Protests are ongoing and expected to grow. The Ambassador met with the President early on April 20 to urge a bold signa [...] |
2005-04-20 17:57:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO869 | PROFILE OF VICE PRESIDENT ALFREDO PALACIO [...] (C) Summary: Vice President Alfredo Palacio became Vice President in 2002 and hoped to reform health care and provide free coverage for the poor. He has publicly criticized Gutierrez on numerous occasions, going so far as to call him a dictator just days ago. Palacio, a green card holder, h [...] |
2005-04-20 18:38:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR EC |
| 05QUITO871 | ECUADOR: POLITICAL SITUATION UPDATE AS OF 2:45 [...] (C) Summary: At 1:15 p.m., Congress voted to replace President Gutierrez with Vice President Alfredo Palacio. The military has announced the withdrawal of its support for President Gutierrez. Protests, which formerly met with police resistance, turned celebratory with news of Gutierrez's d [...] |
2005-04-20 21:51:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO872 | ECUADOR'S POLITICAL CRISIS CONTINUES [...] (C) Summary: The political crisis in Quito is ongoing with new protests against the Congress and newly sworn-in President Alfredo Palacio. The military high command has privately expressed concern but not moved decisively against the protests. We have urged respect for life and property bu [...] |
2005-04-20 23:13:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO874 | ECUADOR: STREETS CALM, GUTIERREZ SAFE, PALACIO [...] (U) SUMMARY: Providential rains cooled demonstrators' temperatures and cleared Quito streets late April 20, although additional protests focusing on Congress are likely April 21. The Ecuadorian Red Cross is claiming two dead, more than 300 injured (mainly from tear gas) since mass demonstra [...] |
2005-04-21 15:24:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO875 | RADIO LA LUNA AND ITS ROLE IN THE ECUADORIAN [...] Summary. Quito's Radio La Luna has become a focal point of anti-government sentiment and action during the last several weeks, successfully serving as a vehicle for anti- institutional sentiment from all segments of the political spectrum and all classes of Ecuadorian society. Although Radi [...] |
2005-04-21 16:40:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO PGOV EC |
| 05QUITO878 | ECUADOR: THE WAY FORWARD [...] (C) Summary: The dismissal by Congress of President Lucio Gutierrez on April 20 and the swearing in of President Alfredo Palacio has shifted the political landscape. Palacio took office sounding notes of contrast with his predecessor, including respect for the constitution and the letter of [...] |
2005-04-21 16:52:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO879 | ECUADOR: IS A PALACIO GOVERNMENT SUSTAINABLE? [...] (C) Summary: A Palacio government could prove sustainable in the short term (1-3 months), but will come under increasing pressure to call new elections after its first month. End Summary. 2. (C) Key factors behind this judgment: -- Palacio has the support of the military and police hi [...] |
2005-04-21 18:00:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO880 | ECUADOR: DID GUTIERREZ FORMALLY RESIGN? [...] (SBU) Former President Lucio Gutierrez' resignation was de facto, having been forced to abandon the Presidential Palace on the afternoon of April 20 due to large-scale protests and the withdrawal of military support. He did not prepare and submit a formal written resignation, as he was force [...] |
2005-04-21 18:14:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO881 | ECUADOR'S ADMINISTRATION CHANGE: CONSTITUTIONAL [...] (C) SUMMARY: Opinions differ here on whether Congress's dismissal of ex-President Gutierrez was constitutional. In play is whether Ecuador's supreme law required a simple or two-thirds majority to remove the chief executive on "abandonment of office" charges. With few demanding Gutierrez's [...] |
2005-04-21 19:44:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM EC |
| 05QUITO882 | ECUADOR: FATE OF USG INTERESTS [...] (C) Summary: It is too early to know how a Palacio government would handle key issues on the USG agenda, but based on Palacio's history and early public statements, it appears very likely that FTA negotiations would be set back, and that Ecuador might well withdraw from the negotiations, whi [...] |
2005-04-21 20:24:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ASEC KCRM ELAB EC |
| 05QUITO883 | EARLY ELECTIONS REQUIRE CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE [...] SUMMARY: Numerous Ecuadorians consider Alfredo Palacio an interim president and are demanding that he call early elections. The constitution does not contemplate such a move, however. Reforming Ecuador's supreme law requires either a two-thirds majority of Congress or a successful referend [...] |
2005-04-21 21:21:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KDEM EC |
| 05QUITO884 | PSI SPAWNS LITTLE INTEREST IN ECUADOR [...] Regarding Reftel request for Embassy comment on the utility of various Public Diplomacy tools in winning Ecuador's support for the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), we consider that placement of USG-drafted articles in local print media the best weapon available. There simply is not s [...] |
2005-04-21 22:05:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | KNNP KPAO OIIP PARM PHSA EC |
| 05QUITO885 | TENTATIVE SUPPORT FOR PALACIO [...] (U) Summary. The Embassy continues its outreach on all fronts, revealing tentative support for Palacio throughout Ecuador. Many "supporters" note that Palacio has a tough road ahead of him as public pressure mounts to hold elections soon and rid Ecuador of corruption and partisan politics. E [...] |
2005-04-21 22:35:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO886 | BIO INFO ON NEW CABINET MINISTERS: PART 1 [...] (U) Summary: On the afternoon of April 21, President Palacio swore in the first members of his new Cabinet: Secretary General of the Administration Luis Herreria Bonnet, SIPDIS Minister of Government Mauricio Gandara Gallegos, Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Parra Gil, Minister of Defe [...] |
2005-04-21 22:54:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR EC |
| 05QUITO89 | GUTIERREZ: BILATERAL RELATIONS REMAIN STRONG [...] Concerned that sensationalistic media play alleging the Embassy was reconsidering its support of President Lucio Gutierrez was damaging heretofore excellent bilateral relations, the Ambassador January 13 telephoned the Ecuadorian leader to clear the air. She opened by discussing Gutierrez's [...] |
2005-01-13 23:01:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV ECON ETRD EFIN EC |
| 05QUITO894 | ECUADOR: INITIAL CONTACTS WITH NEW GOVERNMENT [...] (C) Summary: Initial contacts indicate that the Palacio government is greatly concerned about possible OAS actions and seeks USG recognition, and would welcome a visit by an OAS delegation. They are also intimidated by the very forces of popular discontent that brought them into office, and [...] |
2005-04-22 20:13:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO895 | ECUADOR: POLITICAL SITUATION UPDATE [...] (C) Summary: On April 22, the new Minister of Defense Anibal Solon Espinosa named a new military high command. The Embassy has begun outreach to the new government's Cabinet, though not at the Ambassadorial level. Congress is expected to reconvene on April 26, possibly in Guayaquil. There [...] |
2005-04-22 20:13:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO897 | ECUADOR: ENGAGING THE NEW GOVERNMENT [...] (C) Summary: The Palacio government is gradually consolidating its hold on power, and beginning to send disturbing signals on issues. With ex-President Gutierrez still in the country, the situation remains unsettled--it is far from clear how long this government will last. In line with the [...] |
2005-04-23 20:47:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO898 | ECUADOR: GUTIERREZ GONE, NEXT STEPS [...] (C) Summary: Ex-president Lucio Gutierrez departed Ecuador for Brazil early on April 24, after being granted safe passage by the GOE. Reaction has been muted thus far, with no demonstrations reported on a sunny Sunday when most Quitenos were more occupied by soccer rather than politics. Gut [...] |
2005-04-24 20:28:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO900 | ECUADOR TO REVERSE ECONOMIC POLICY? [...] (U) Summary: Public pronouncements by and reports from private meetings with the new Ecuadorian Minister of Finance and Economy suggest that the GOE's economic policy will be making a U-turn. Fiscal responsibility is to be replaced with increased social spending. The intent to pay off debt [...] |
2005-04-25 16:28:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR EC |
| 05QUITO911 | BIO INFO FOR NEW GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS: PART 2 [...] (U) Summary: On April 25, President Palacio named Minister of Education Consuelo Yanez Cossio, Minister of Tourism Maria Isabel Crespo, Minister of Sports Omar Cevallos, Minister of Health Wellington Sandoval and Presidential Communication Secretary Carlos Cortez. Elsa de Mena will return t [...] |
2005-04-25 22:08:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR EC |
| 05QUITO914 | ECUADOR: POSITIVE INITIAL MEETING WITH PRESIDENT [...] (C) Summary: In a cordial encounter with the Ambassador on April 25, President Alfredo Palacio stressed his personal links to the U.S., and his wishes for normal and open relations with the USG. He asked the Ambassador to publicly express support for his government. Palacio welcomed Embassy [...] |
2005-04-25 23:42:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO919 | WHY DID GUTIERREZ FALL? [...] (C) Summary: Early analyses of the overthrow of Gutierrez in Ecuador in the U.S. press and elsewhere have relied on facile, but erroneous comparisons between Ecuador and Venezuela or Bolivia. In most, either Gutierrez or Palacio is Ecuador's Chavez. In fact, little can be understood about [...] |
2005-04-26 14:10:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON EC |
| 05QUITO932 | ECUADOR: FM PARRA OPENS BILATERAL DIALOGUE [...] (C) Summary: In a cordial one-on-one encounter on April 26, FM Antonio Parra Gil told the Ambassador that, by natural inclination and necessity, Ecuador seeks good relations with the United States. He offered open and honest dialogue with the USG, and pledged to address specific issues in su [...] |
2005-04-26 20:15:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SNAR PINR EC |
| 05QUITO934 | ECUADOR: TENSIONS LOWER, GOE REGROUPS [...] (U) Summary: With the situation in Quito approaching normalcy, the Ambassador met with FM Antonio Parra on April 26. Convening for the first time since swearing in President Palacio on April 20, Congress met in Quito to vote in a new Congress president, and debate purging its ranks of ethic [...] |
2005-04-26 21:41:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO943 | NEW MINISTER OF TRADE: "ECUADOR TO CONTINUE FTA [...] Summary: In our first meeting new Ecuadorian Minister of Trade Oswaldo Molestina stated that Ecuador would continue to pursue free trade negotiations with the U.S. He said that, given that the negotiating team was fundamentally technical rather than political in nature, he intended to make [...] |
2005-04-27 18:38:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECON PGOV ELAB EINV EC |
| 05QUITO945 | FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS NERVOUS ABOUT ECUADOR'S [...] (C) Summary. Our meetings with the financial and business sectors reveal uneasiness with the fiscal policies being espoused by the new Minister of Finance, Rafael Correa (Reftel). The international financial institutions (IFIs) found Correa,s proposed economic remedies to be nave and outdated [...] |
2005-04-27 20:03:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON EFIN EC |
| 05QUITO947 | ECUADOR: OAS ON THE GROUND, QUITO CALM [...] (SBU) Summary: Quito is relatively calm, with a very small protest reported on April 27. The OAS mission arrived late on April 26 and began meetings with the government and others the following day. The Ambassador met with the new Defense Minister on April 27. For the first time in recent [...] |
2005-04-27 22:17:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO962 | DEFMIN FOCUSED ON GOVERNANCE AND HEALTH, NOT [...] SUMMARY: The Ambassador paid a courtesy call on new Ecuadorian Defense Minister Solon Espinosa April 27. Avoiding mention of the security threats facing his nation, Espinosa instead trumpeted new President Alfredo Palacio's honesty and his administration's intention to raise health standards [...] |
2005-04-28 19:08:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV MARR MOPS MASS EC CO |
| 05QUITO964 | ECUADOR CONSIDERING IACHR NOMINATION [...] PolOff conveyed reftel TPs and curriculum vitae to MFA Human Rights Officer Carmen Larrea on April 26. PolOff emphasized Carozza's impressive background and experience in human rights legal work in Latin America. Larrea thanked us for the information and said she considered the nominee an [...] |
2005-04-28 19:56:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV PHUM XM EC OAS |
| 05QUITO970 | ECUADOR: MINGOV LOSING SLEEP [...] (C) Summary: In a meeting with the Ambassador, an unfocused Minister of Government Mauricio Gandara discussed his mostly theoretical goals for the (maximum) 18 months remaining for the Palacio government. His top priorities were police reform and a referendum to propose a constitutional ass [...] |
2005-04-28 20:06:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 05QUITO976 | ECUADOR: EMBASSY CONTINUES OUTREACH, OAS CONTINUES [...] (C) Summary: The Ambassador met separately with Minister of Government Mauricio Gandara and First Lady Maria Paret de Palacio on April 28. The OAS delegation continued its round of meetings with political parties, indigenous, civil society groups, jurists, and ex-presidents, and will meet wi [...] |
2005-04-28 22:33:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ASEC PINR EC |
| 05QUITO978 | WELCOMING FM PARRA TO WASHINGTON [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Ecuador's new foreign minister, Antonio Parra, will travel to Washington to participate in the election of the next OAS Secretary General (slated for May 2). Parra, currently in Santiago for the Community of Democracies gathering, arrives in Washington May 1, accompanied by a [...] |
2005-04-29 19:50:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EC OAS |
| 05QUITO983 | BIO INFO FOR NEW GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS: PART 3 [...] (U) Summary: Pablo Rizzo was named Minister of Agriculture on April 29. President Palacio has yet to name Ministers of Labor and Energy. Below is biographical information for the following new Cabinet members and government officials: First Lady Maria Beatriz Paret de Palacio, Vice FM Mar [...] |
2005-04-29 22:02:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR EC |
| 05QUITO989 | ECUADOR: INDIGENOUS SUPPORT PALACIO, OAS CONTINUES [...] (U) Summary: The OAS met with business representatives, evangelical indigenous, and international organizations on April 29. Congress removed four board members from the Central Bank on April 28. It will reconvene on May 3 to debate the naming of members of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal. [...] |
2005-04-29 22:35:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL ASEC EC |
| 05QUITO995 | CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT AFFECTING TIP PROGRESS [...] (U) Summary: President Palacio is appointing new heads, subsecretaries, and directors of all ministries, and the turnover will slow down progress on key issues including trafficking in persons (TIP). Changes in the ministry of government, which heads the GOE's fight against TIP, are ongoing [...] |
2005-05-02 22:02:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1037 | 2006-2007 NEW HORIZONS UNCERTAIN [...] (C) Summary: After reviewing the history of the last planned New Horizons exercise canceled at the eleventh-hour in 2004, and taking into account the current political situation, this Embassy recommends that the Department and SOUTHCOM consider postponing the 2006-2007 New Horizons humanitar [...] |
2006-04-26 21:56:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MOPS SNAR PTER PGOV EAID EC |
| 06QUITO1042 | PALACIO DISAPPOINTS MANY ONE YEAR ON [...] (C) Summary: This week marked the one-year anniversary of Alfredo Palacio's ascension to the Presidency. He ducked the opportunity to tout the accomplishments of his first year in office or set forth a positive agenda for his remaining months. Instead, ministers were trooped before the press [...] |
2006-04-27 19:20:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM EC |
| 06QUITO106 | A REVIEW OF THE NEVER-ENDING OXY SAGA [...] (C) Summary. Nearly six years after the GOE first refused to rebate VAT taxes to Occidental Petroleum (Oxy), we are not much closer to resolving the dispute. USG pressure, Oxy entreaties, and well-meaning GOE officials have produced some progress, but there have also been missteps and miscom [...] |
2006-01-13 18:26:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ETRD ECON EC |
| 06QUITO1106 | IRAN: GOE DISTRACTED BY ITS OWN HRC CANDIDACY [...] (C) PolChief delivered RefTel points on May 3 to MFA U/S for Multilateral Affairs, Mauricio Montalvo, conveying U.S. and international concerns over Iran's bid for a seat on the Human Rights Council (HRC). Montalvo said no decision had been taken on the issue but said he did not believe that [...] |
2006-05-04 16:59:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | KUNR PHUM UNHRC PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1107 | GOE UNLIKELY TO ENDORSE PSI [...] (C) PolOff delivered RefTel points in a diplomatic note on April 11, and PolChief followed up on May 3 with MFA U/S for Multilateral Affairs Mauricio Montalvo, conveying U.S. hope that Ecuador would endorse PSI principles so that it may participate in the Warsaw meeting. Montalvo said that he [...] |
2006-05-04 17:00:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | MNUC PARM PGOV PHSA PREL KNNP |
| 06QUITO1112 | FM CARRION CRITICAL OF USG TERRORISM REPORT [...] (C) Summary: FM Francisco Carrion on April 30 publicly regretted the Department's 2005 Country Report on Terrorism for Ecuador. He refuted the report's claim that Ecuador's historical neglect of the region had compounded its current woes, and rejected assertions that Ecuador is neutral in the [...] |
2006-05-04 21:24:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV KJUS MARR CASC ASEC EC |
| 06QUITO1157 | Ecuador Election Update--Six Months Out [...] (U) Summary: Six months away from national elections in October, and three months before candidates formally register, more than 20 aspirants already crowd the presidential field and that number is likely to rise. Former VP Leon Roldos holds a consistent lead in early polling, but most Ecuad [...] |
2006-05-10 19:06:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KDEM PGOV PHUM PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1249 | OXY DEMARCHE DELIVERED--FM REJECTS GOE SHIFT [...] (C) Summary: The Ambassador conveyed USG regret (per instructions RefTel) over the GOE decision against Occidental Petroleum (Oxy) to FM Francisco Carrion on May 22. Carrion said he would convey the U.S. position to President Palacio later the same day. Carrion rejected press speculation th [...] |
2006-05-22 22:09:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV OAS ETRD PREL EC |
| 06QUITO125 | NEW ECUADORIAN FINANCE MINISTER PLEDGES FISCAL [...] (C) Summary: In a meeting with the Ambassador, new Ecuadorian Minister of Finance Diego Borja affirmed his commitment to responsible fiscal policy and expressed his interest in promoting microfinance. The Ambassador expressed U.S. support for holding the spending line in a difficult elector [...] |
2006-01-17 22:42:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN EPET PGOV EINV EC |
| 06QUITO126 | PRESIDENT'S CONCILIATORY STATE OF THE NATION SPEECH [...] (SBU) Summary: In the president's annual "report to the nation" speech widely interpreted as conciliatory, President Palacio averted further confrontation with Congress over his reform agenda. Instead, Palacio thanked his critics and praised the role of a loyal opposition, inviting Congress [...] |
2006-01-17 23:01:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV PHUM KCRM ECON EC |
| 06QUITO1274 | GOE DEFENDS LEGALITY OF OXY SEIZURE [...] (C) Summary: WHA Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Charles Shapiro on May 16 told FM Francisco Carrion the USG was disappointed by the GOE's decision to cancel Occidental Petroleum's contract, a violation of the bilateral investment treaty that would have a chilling effect on FTA talks. Ca [...] |
2006-05-24 16:45:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1275 | LABOR MINISTRY PRIORITIZES TRIPARTITE DIALOGUE AND [...] (U) Summary: Minister of Labor Galo Chiriboga and Vice Minister of Labor Jose Serrano outlined the four main goals of the Ministry of Labor (MOL): combating child labor, tripartite dialogue, modernization of the MOL, and combating employment discrimination. President Palacio recently signed [...] |
2006-05-24 18:47:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB PGOV EC |
| 06QUITO128 | ECUADOR: FM SUPPORTS UNSC REFORM [...] (SBU) The Ambassador discussed reftel points with FM Francisco Carrion in a one-on-one meeting on January 13, requesting GOE support for management reforms and emphasizing the need for a more credible Human Rights Council. 2. (SBU) FM Carrion said that the UN has great importance to Ecua [...] |
2006-01-17 23:35:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV PHUM EC |
| 06QUITO1284 | AMBASSADOR PROMOTES SECURITY AND DEVELOPMENT ON [...] (SBU) Summary: The Ambassador visited the remote Carchi province on May 18 to highlight USG investment in security and development on Ecuador's northern border with Colombia. While there, the Ambassador met with military and police officials, toured a customs and immigration post, hosted a lu [...] |
2006-05-24 21:07:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL MARR MASS MOPS SNAR PTER EC CO |
| 06QUITO1304 | NAM/G-77 ADVANCE DEMARCHES DELIVERED: GOE [...] (C) PolOff met with Acting Director for Multilateral Affairs Dennys Toscano on May 25 to deliver RefTel A and B points. PolOff expressed USG concern that the long-established practice of consensus decision-making on budgetary matters in the UN not be broken, and that the GOE consider pushing [...] |
2006-05-30 12:56:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL AORC AMGT IAEA KNNP UNSC UNGA EC |
| 06QUITO1320 | ECUADOR: POSITIVE REACTION TO U.S. STATEMENT ON [...] (C) Summary: In the absence of the Ambassador (on internal travel), DCM made demarche points (RefTel) to Acting Foreign Minister Diego Ribadeneira on May 31. Ribadeneira welcomed the USG Iran initiative, pledged continued GOE support for holding Iran accountable for its nuclear program, and [...] |
2006-05-31 19:51:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1326 | CHAVEZ LOVEFEST; A "PRAGMATIC" EMBRACE [...] (C) Summary: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez visited Quito May 30 to sign energy accords (RefTel) and signal political support for the GOE. Chavez was warmly welcomed by President Palacio, who basked in Chavez's praise for defending Ecuador's energy resources. Chavez held an extended one- [...] |
2006-05-31 22:40:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1386 | GOE INCLINED TO SUPPORT UN INDIGENOUS DECLARATION [...] (SBU) PolOff presented reftel points to Augusto Saa, Director of Human Rights and Social and Environmental issues at the MFA, on May 22, emphasizing the USG view that the Chair's draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is fundamentally flawed. Saa said the GOE is inclined to su [...] |
2006-06-06 22:09:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1394 | CANDIDATE CORREA OPEN TO DIALOGUE [...] (C) Summary: The Ambassador met on June 6 with Rafael Correa, the controversial former finance minister and leftist presidential candidate. While noting disagreement in several areas of USG interest, the meeting was cordial, with the candidate generally perceived as Chavez' likely favorite [...] |
2006-06-07 20:14:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1395 | AMBASSADOR VISITS MACHALA AND EL ORO PROVINCE [...] (U) Summary. In a trip to the southern border province of El Oro, the Ambassador visited U.S. company Machala Power's gas platform and electricity generation facilities and heard about their plight in trying to collect nearly $50 million in unpaid bills from GOE-related entities. She inaugura [...] |
2006-06-07 20:22:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD EINV ENRG SNAR ECON PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1399 | CONGRESS PASSES SUBCONTRACTING LAW IMPROVING [...] (SBU) Summary: Congress passed a law on May 30 to regulate subcontracting, setting a maximum 50 percent of workers that can be hired through this mechanism. Workers can be subcontracted for any function. Employers must provide subcontracted workers with profit sharing and contributions to [...] |
2006-06-07 21:31:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB PGOV EC |
| 06QUITO1400 | ECUADOR-COLOMBIA BORDER PROGRESS REPORT - JAN-MAY [...] (C) Summary: Ecuadorian northern border military and anti-drug police units scored several successes against narco-terrorists in the first half of 2006. The Ecuadorian military made multiple FARC camp busts, seizing arms, communication devices, and military equipment, as well as capturing tw [...] |
2006-06-07 22:12:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR MASS MOPS SNAR PTER EC CO |
| 06QUITO1401 | GOE DEFENDS NAM IRAN DECLARATION, BUT PLEDGES [...] (C) PolChief and PolIntern delivered RefTel demarche on June 7 to Ambassador Fernando Yepez, Acting U/S for Multilateral Affairs, expressing USG dismay over the recent declaration on Iran issued by the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Ambassador Yepez noted that the GOE Ambassador in Vienna had a [...] |
2006-06-07 22:21:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | KDEM KPAO PREL PGOV IZ EC |
| 06QUITO1427 | GOE RESCINDS NAM IRAN ENDORSEMENT, PLEDGES SUPPORT [...] (C) PolChief delivered Ref A demarche to Ambassador Fernando Yepez, Acting U/S for Multilateral Affairs on June 8. Yepez response could not have been more different from his reception a day earlier (Ref B). Yepez agreed that Iran should be given time to reconsider its position, and was very [...] |
2006-06-09 17:04:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | KNNP IAEA PREL MNUC IR EU |
| 06QUITO1434 | ECUADOR READY FOR A FEMALE PRESIDENT? [...] (SBU) Summary: Women in Ecuador have made significant strides in politics in the last decade, with quotas helping to give women opportunities to win public office and contributing to a gradual change in societal attitudes. The campaign of Cynthia Viteri, the only female presidential pre-can [...] |
2006-06-12 16:55:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM SCUL EC |
| 06QUITO1436 | SUPREME COURT ALLOWS FORMER PRESIDENT MAHUAD TO [...] (U) Summary: The Supreme Court ruled on June 7 that criminal charges against ex-president Jamil Mahuad would be put on hold for lack of evidence, permitting Mahuad to return to Ecuador without facing an arrest warrant. Ex-president Mahuad, widely blamed for the country,s severe financial cr [...] |
2006-06-12 18:27:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1438 | ECUADOR SOLICITS OIL HELP FROM ABROAD [...] (C) Summary. There are nearly daily press reports that the GOE is about to get assistance from a variety of countries to manage or invest in Ecuador's oil sector, especially the fields previously managed by Occidental Petroleum. Private reports we have received indicate the rush to invest in [...] |
2006-06-12 21:31:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ECON PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1470 | CAN LEADERS MEET IN QUITO [...] (U) Summary: Presidents from Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Bolivia met at the Andean Community (CAN) conference in Quito on June 13 to publicly demonstrate their commitment to the troubled regional organization, discuss areas for cooperation with the European Union (EU), and to issue a joint let [...] |
2006-06-14 22:21:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1477 | CAN LEADERS MEET IN QUITO [...] (U) Summary: Presidents from Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Bolivia met at the Andean Community (CAN) conference in Quito on June 13 to publicly demonstrate their commitment to the troubled regional organization, discuss areas for cooperation with the European Union (EU), and to issue a joint let [...] |
2006-06-15 15:45:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1547 | AMB RENEWS DIALOGUE WITH PRESIDENT PALACIO [...] (C) The Ambassador met with President Palacio on June 21, at her request, for the first time since the Occidental Petroleum (Oxy) decision was announced on May 15. Palacio appeared nervous but eager to re-establish direct dialogue. The Ambassador stressed the importance of GOE cooperation wi [...] |
2006-06-23 19:02:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EINV ETRD EC |
| 06QUITO1549 | MIGRATION: ECUADORIANS STILL LOOKING NORTH [...] (U) Summary: At least since the severe economic crisis in 1999, the two certainties in Ecuador have been death and emigration. A steady stream of 30,000 to 40,000 undocumented migrants takes to the sea and skies annually from Ecuador in pursuit of their own American dreams. Periodic reports [...] |
2006-06-23 19:30:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SMIG PHUM PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1558 | THE AMBASSADOR'S JUNE 21 MEETING WITH VICE [...] (C) Summary: Vice Presidential candidate Ramiro Gonzalez told the Ambassador on June 21 that he and Presidential candidate Leon Roldos (currently ahead in polls) plan to reform the educational system, the electrical sector, and repair the investment climate crippled by the recently-passed hyd [...] |
2006-06-26 15:39:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1578 | ECUADOR: ASIAN DIPLOMATS EAGER FOR DIALOGUE [...] (C) Summary: Our recent outreach to diplomatic counterparts from China, Japan and Korea found them highly aware of USG coordination efforts (described RefTel), and eager to engage in dialogue about the political and economic situation in Ecuador and the region. In deference to USG concerns [...] |
2006-06-27 21:11:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETRD ECON LA CH JA KS EC |
| 06QUITO1588 | INDIGENOUS HEARTLAND DIVIDED ON ELECTIONS [...] (SBU) Summary: The indigenous heartland provinces of Chimborazo and Cotopaxi are predominantly indigenous strongholds of the Pachakutik Movement. Despite Pachakutik's dominance, the indigenous movement is fractured internally over whether to run its own candidate or support Rafael Correa, an [...] |
2006-06-28 16:19:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1590 | FM CARRION URGES USG SIGNAL ON ATPDEA RENEWAL [...] (C) Summary: Ecuadorian FM Francisco Carrion told the Ambassador on June 27 that he hoped the USG would positively signal support for extension of ATPDEA benefits to support regional economic stability and "keep Bolivia in the fold." He was far from certain that an oil refining deal would be [...] |
2006-06-28 19:08:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1612 | ECUADOR SIGNS MORE ENERGY AGREEMENTS WITH VENEZUELA [...] (U) Summary. Ecuador's and Venezuela's state energy companies PetroEcuador and PDVSA yesterday signed a pair of energy agreements, following a series of technical meetings this month. Venezuela's Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez and acting PetroEcuador President Walter Lopez were joined by Ec [...] |
2006-06-30 20:03:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EC EPET ETRD PREL VZ EINV |
| 06QUITO1624 | HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST DETAINED BY MILITARY [...] (U) Summary: Human Rights activist Wilman Adolfo Jimenez Salazar was detained by the military on June 19 in Payamino, Orellana province. He is charged with violating the state of emergency and was held incommunicado until June 26. Amnesty International considers Jimenez to be a prisoner of [...] |
2006-07-03 20:15:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV MOPS EC |
| 06QUITO1657 | AFRO-ECUADORIAN HEARTLAND RIPE FOR POPULIST APPEAL [...] (SBU) Summary: The province of Esmeraldas is the largest of two centers of the minority Afro-Ecuadorian population. The province is also marked by high unemployment and underdevelopment, fueling populist electoral appeal. Since 2002, the Popular Democratic Movement (MPD), a Marxist populist [...] |
2006-07-06 22:34:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL KDEM EC |
| 06QUITO1669 | PALACIO REPLACES TWO MINISTERS [...] (C) Summary: President Palacio on July 6 called for the resignations of all his cabinet ministers. On July 7, Palacio accepted the resignations of Minister of Economy Diego Borja -- who seems to have been the primary target of this move -- and Minister of Trade Joaquin Zevallos. Borja was r [...] |
2006-07-07 19:34:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1671 | ALAN GARCIA WOWS QUITO [...] (C) Summary: Peruvian President-elect Alan Garcia and his FM-designate Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde visited Ecuador on July 6 to affirm positive bilateral relations and promote further regional economic integration between Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, and Brazil. Garcia publicly expressed [...] |
2006-07-07 20:05:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PE EC |
| 06QUITO1680 | PRESIDENTIAL SECRETARY STEPS DOWN [...] (C) Summary: Presidential Secretary Jose Modesto Apolo resigned on July 10. Apolo, who was viewed by many as the power behind the power, said that his image had suffered considerably from "unfounded allegations" launched by ex-Minister of Economy Diego Borja. Apolo claimed to be concerned t [...] |
2006-07-10 21:27:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1681 | NOBOA DROPS OUT OF PRES. RACE [...] (U) Summary: Alvaro Noboa, Institutional Renewal Party of National Action (PRIAN), withdrew from the presidential race on July 9, citing low showings in the polls. PRIAN deputy Vicente Taiano told us his party would either seek an alliance or support an independent, and ruled out the possib [...] |
2006-07-10 21:32:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1702 | NEW MINGOV NAMED [...] Summary: As part of an ongoing cabinet reshuffle on July 11, President Palacio replaced Minister of Government Felipe Vega with Antonio Andretta and Minister of Public Works Derlis Palacios with Pedro Lopez Torres. While Vega, Palacio's fifth Minister of Government, has been linked to charg [...] |
2006-07-13 11:41:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV EC PINR PREL |
| 06QUITO1707 | AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH LUCIO GUTIERREZ [...] (SBU) Summary: After appearing in constitutional court to defend his right to run in upcoming elections, Gutierrez met with the Ambassador on July 12. Gutierrez summarized the legal charges against him, seeking to show their arbitrary nature. While the charges are obviously politically mot [...] |
2006-07-13 20:35:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1722 | REGULATION FOR HYDROCARBONS REFORM REVISED [...] (SBU) Summary: President Palacio issued a decree July 11 correcting the implementing Regulation of the April Hydrocarbons Law that had been published in the Official Register on June 29. The previous regulation offered potentially important opportunities for companies to mitigate the law's m [...] |
2006-07-14 18:28:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EPET EINV |
| 06QUITO1735 | LEGISLATION TO REFORM ECUADOR'S ELECTRICITY SECTOR [...] (SBU) Summary. President Palacio submitted to Congress July 10 legislation to reform Ecuador's electricity sector that would represent a significant advance if passed and implemented as proposed. The legislation would make it a crime to steal electricity, recognize almost $1 billion owed by [...] |
2006-07-17 20:07:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ENRG EINV |
| 06QUITO1772 | ELECTIONS UPDATE: GUTIERREZ BARRED, POPULIST [...] (U) Summary: The Constitutional Court on July 18 ruled that ex-President Lucio Gutierrez could not run for public office until 2007. With Gutierrez blocked from running, a PRIAN-PSP alliance is a strong possibility and could produce a strong showing in this year's elections. In the interim, [...] |
2006-07-19 22:33:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1773 | MINISTER OF TRADE REPLACEMENT NOT YET NAMED [...] (C) Summary. President Palacio accepted Minister of Trade Roberto Illingworth's resignation on July 13, after only a week in office for the latter. Illingworth had been facing pressure from the Guayaquil Chamber of Commerce since being named on July 7 (reftel). Teodoro Maldonado, Executive [...] |
2006-07-19 22:38:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON ETRD PGOV PREL |
| 06QUITO1803 | ECUADOR,S NEW ECONOMIC CZAR: SCUFFED GOODS, [...] (C) Summary: New Ecuadorian Economy Minister Armando Rodas recently presented a sober six-month economic plan, lending a technocratic polish to an appointment painted in politics. End summary. 2. (C) On July 17, Ecuadorian Minister of Economy and Finance Armando Rodas (for biodata, see reft [...] |
2006-07-21 17:57:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EC EFIN ENRG EPET ETRD PGOV PINR PREL |
| 06QUITO1813 | 61ST UNGA: PALACIO & CARRION LIKELY TO ATTEND [...] PolOffs met with Director General for Multilateral Affairs Lourdes Puma on July 20 to discuss RefTel points. Puma told us that President Alfredo Palacio and Foreign Minister Francisco Carrion would likely attend the 61st UNGA General Debate September 19-29, but said that she could not yet con [...] |
2006-07-24 19:12:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL OTRA OVIP KSEP UNGA EC |
| 06QUITO1824 | UPDATE ON OPERATIONS OF OXY'S FORMER BLOCK [...] (C) Summary: Occidental Petroleum (Oxy) cleared its first legal hurdle July 13 when the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) officially registered its case against the Government of Ecuador (GOE). More than two months after the GOE declared caducity (reftel A), s [...] |
2006-07-25 19:44:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON EPET EINV |
| 06QUITO1837 | ELECTIONS UPDATE: PSP-PRIAN FORM ALLIANCE; [...] (U) Summary: Lucio Gutierrez, PSP and Alvaro Noboa's PRIAN announced on July 26 that the two parties would form an alliance for the presidential ticket. Gutierrez publicly asked Noboa to reenter the presidential race at the top of the PRIAN-PSP ticket. Noboa, however, has not responded pub [...] |
2006-07-27 19:15:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1860 | WHO'S ON FIRST? PALACIO NAMES FIFTH TRADE MINISTER [...] (C) Summary: Two weeks after the embarrassment of Roberto Illingworth,s hasty resignation ended his tenure of less than one week (which in turn had followed the very brief turn in the office by Joaquin Cevallos), Ecuadorian President Alfredo Palacio named relative unknown Tomas Peribonio as his [...] |
2006-07-28 19:11:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EC EFIN ETRD PGOV PINR PREL |
| 06QUITO1867 | ELECTIONS UPDATE: CANDIDATE POSITION PROFILE [...] (U) Summary: In Ecuador,s presidential race, only two of the four front runners have concrete political platforms. Leon Roldos and Rafael Correa present well-defined stances on the issues. Correa,s stance is particularly anti-U.S. Cynthia Viteri and the PRIAN/PRI alliance have not yet defi [...] |
2006-07-31 19:48:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1869 | ECUADORIAN PRISONS IN CRISIS - UNDERFUNDED AND [...] Summary: President Palacio on June 7 declared a state of emergency in Ecuador's prisons to address faulty infrastructure, overpopulation, violence and meager resources that had led to ongoing prisoner and worker strikes. Despite an $8 million budget increase in April, the majority of the fun [...] |
2006-07-31 21:55:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1887 | MINISTER OF LABOR CHIRIBOGA NAMED HEAD OF [...] (U) President Palacio replaced the board of directors of Petroecuador, and named Labor Minister Galo Chiriboga president of the state energy company on July 31. The decision comes after the failed July 27 auction of 17 million barrels of crude oil from Occidental's former concession, Block 1 [...] |
2006-08-01 21:10:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1905 | GOE RATIFIES INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION AGAINST [...] (U) The Ecuadorian Congress ratified the Inter-American Convention Against Terrorism (IACAT) on May 9. The Convention was subsequently signed by President Palacio, and was sent to OAS headquarters on July 14. Ecuador is awaiting confirmation from its OAS delegation of the date of deposit of [...] |
2006-08-02 20:57:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PTER EC |
| 06QUITO1906 | ECUADOR-VENEZUELA DEAL COLLAPSES, PALACIO CANCELS [...] (SBU) Summary. After two months of wrangling over details, Petroecuador's and Venezuelan PDVSA's plan to swap Ecuadorian crude for refined products appears finally to have collapsed. (reftel A) The deal was uneconomical and technically untenable from the beginning, and Venezuela apparently [...] |
2006-08-02 21:17:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON |
| 06QUITO1909 | ECUADOR ELECTION: VITERI PICKS RUNNING-MATE [...] (C) Summary: Presidential candidate Cynthia Viteri (Social Christian Party-PSC) announced on August 1 that Ernesto Davalos Salazar would be her vice presidential running-mate in the October elections. The choice of Davalos, a businessman from Quito with experience in the finance and petrole [...] |
2006-08-02 23:01:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1910 | WELCOME BACK, GENERAL CRADDOCK [...] (C) Summary: Please accept my warm welcome on your final visit to Ecuador, General Craddock. It has been a pleasure and privilege for all of us at U.S. Mission Ecuador to work with you to cement and deepen productive U.S.-Ecuador military relations. Your visit comes at a time when U.S.-Ecu [...] |
2006-08-02 23:15:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR MASS MOPS SNAR PTER EC |
| 06QUITO1919 | ECUADORIAN PRISONS IN CRISIS, PART II: CONDITIONS [...] Summary: An Ecuadorian prison system plagued by overpopulation and a lack of resources has led to riots, worker strikes, and a state of emergency. A slow justice system characterized by long sentences, appeals that take up to four years, harsher drug laws, the elimination of shortened sente [...] |
2006-08-03 22:45:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO1920 | PETROECUADOR - A CRUMBLING GIANT [...] (C) Summary. Petroecuador, Ecuador's state-owned oil company, has sole responsibility over the country's most lucrative resource, yet is suffering from a severe financial crisis, a steady decline in production, and a terribly inefficient and inadequate refining capacity. Graft permeates all [...] |
2006-08-03 22:45:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON |
| 06QUITO1922 | ECUADOR WILL MAINTAIN MINUSTAH COMMITMENT [...] (SBU) PolOffs met with MFA Director General for Multilateral Affairs Lourdes Puma on August 2 to deliver reftel talking points. Puma said the GOE will maintain its current support to MINUSTAH. Puma indicated the GOE will fully support an extension of the MINUSTAH mandate and that the GOE [...] |
2006-08-03 22:46:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | KPKO PREL HA UNSC |
| 06QUITO1924 | CHARGE MEETING WITH NEW ECONOMY MINISTER RODAS [...] (C) Summary: The Charge met with Ecuador's new Minister of Economy and Finance Armando Rodas August 3. The atmosphere was quite positive. Choosing to speak English and proud to note his Fulbright study in the U.S., Rodas seemed genuinely committed to improving the bilateral economic relatio [...] |
2006-08-04 15:03:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD PGOV PREL |
| 06QUITO2002 | PRESIDENT PALACIO SEEKS WHO DIRECTOR GENERALSHIP [...] (SBU) President Alfredo Palacio has instructed the MFA to lobby WHO board capitals in favor of his candidacy for the WHO Director Generalship. A MFA mission headed by U/S for Multilateral Affairs Gonzalo Salvador Holguin might visit Washington during the week of August 14 or 21 seeking meeti [...] |
2006-08-09 17:12:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO2007 | ECUADOR MAY BE ALLY ON LEBANON [...] (C) In response to Ref A points, MFA U/S Gonzalo Salvador told PolChief on August 9 that the GOE supports any effort to achieve a cease-fire in Lebanon, including the draft resolution pending in the Security Council. 2. (C) On the Human Rights Council special session (Ref B), after initia [...] |
2006-08-09 21:56:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL IS LE MOPS PHUM UN PTER EC |
| 06QUITO2008 | ECUADOR ELECTION UPDATE: CORREA NAMES SURPRISE [...] (SBU) Summary: Far-left presidential candidate Rafael Correa (PAIS) on August 5 announced Lenin Voltaire MORENO Garces as his running mate at a mass rally in rural coastal Guayas province. Moreno, a relative political unknown, is unlikely to attract many votes to Correa, who said his choice [...] |
2006-08-09 21:58:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV EC |
| 06QUITO2011 | ECUADOR'S BACHELET PARTY [...] (U) Summary: Chile's president, Michelle Bachelet, made her inaugural visit to Ecuador August 7-8. She announced several initiatives to deepen trade relations and offer assistance to Ecuador's petroleum sector, while promoting a well-received message of hope, democratic strengthening, econom [...] |
2006-08-10 12:58:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ETRD ENRG EC |
| 06QUITO2025 | ECUADOR TO PUSH FOR BALANCE ON LEBANON [...] (C) PolChief conveyed Ref A points to MFA U/S for Multilateral Affairs Gonzalo Salvador on August 10, urging the GOE to speak up in the session to point out the imbalance of the current resolution. Salvador said he would instruct Ecuador's Ambassador in Geneva to attempt to introduce balance [...] |
2006-08-10 21:13:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO2041 | PALACIO AND EHLERS RE-IGNITE REFORM DEBATE [...] (SBU) Summary: In a ceremonial speech on August 10 President Palacio renewed his call for a public referendum to force political reforms. The surprise proposal would be non-binding and administered in conjunction with the second round of presidential elections on November 26. It would incl [...] |
2006-08-14 23:32:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL KDEM EC |
| 06QUITO2050 | ECUADOR REITERATES SUPPORT FOR SECURITY COUNCIL ON [...] No summary [...] |
2006-08-15 21:17:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PTER MOPS UNAUS UNSC IS LE |
| 06QUITO2064 | ECUADOR ELECTION: THEN THERE WERE SEVENTEEN [...] (SBU) Summary. The registration period for all candidates running for office in October 15 elections closed on August 15, attracting an unprecedented seventeen presidential aspirants. Eccentric billionaire candidate Alvaro Noboa announced his reentry, oddly declaring himself "a hero of God w [...] |
2006-08-16 21:14:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL KDEM EC |
| 06QUITO2078 | CARRION'S MFA REFOCUSES ECUADOR'S FOREIGN POLICY [...] (SBU) Summary: Since taking office in October 2005, Foreign Minister Francisco Carrion, Ecuador's top career diplomat, has attempted to restore credibility to the ministry by reversing the politicization and decline of the diplomatic corps under his immediate predecessors. Part of this proc [...] |
2006-08-17 20:16:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO2082 | NEW COLOMBIAN FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS ECUADOR [...] (U) Summary: Colombian Foreign Minister Maria Araujo made her first official visit to Ecuador on August 16. In meetings with Foreign Minister Francisco Carrion and Vice President Alejandro Serrano she discussed the need for safeguarding bilateral relations in the face of problems along the c [...] |
2006-08-17 22:49:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL MARR MASS MOPS SNAR PTER EC CO |
| 06QUITO2087 | SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST RE POTENTIAL INDONESIAN [...] (U) This is an action request; see para 7. 2. (SBU) Summary: Press reports indicate Indonesia's state-run oil company Pertamina is interested in running Occidental Petroleum's (Oxy) former Block 15 in Ecuador under an Energy Cooperation MOU signed between the two countries in July. Frenc [...] |
2006-08-18 19:42:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV ENRG |
| 06QUITO2093 | ECUADOR WILL NOT SUPPORT WEDGWOOD FOR THE HRC [...] (SBU) On August 18, PolOff met with Lourdes Puma, Director General for Multilateral Affairs in the Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deliver the diplomatic note in reftel. Ms. Puma said the GOE will not support Professor Ruth Wedgwood's candidacy for re-election to the HRC. She said [...] |
2006-08-21 20:58:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM UN UNHRC EC |
| 06QUITO2094 | NORTHERN BORDER PROVINCES TILTING TOWARD ROLDOS [...] (U) Summary: The northern provinces of Imbabura and Carchi are strongholds of the Democratic Left (ID) party and, in Imbabura, the indigenous movement. Predictably, Leon Roldos is the acknowledged front runner in presidential elections. There is little agreement among key actors over which [...] |
2006-08-21 21:30:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO2116 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON MERCURY PARTNERSHIPS [...] (U) On August 22 EconOff delivered reftel points to Frida Pin Hoppe from the International Affairs Department in Ecuador's Ministry of the Environment (MOE). Pin confirmed that while Ecuador is not represented on the UNEP's Governing Council, an Ecuadorian delegate will likely attend the meet [...] |
2006-08-23 18:11:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD SENV EMIN UNEP EC |
| 06QUITO2131 | ECUADOR ELECTIONS: NOW THERE ARE TEN...OR ELEVEN? [...] (SBU) Summary: The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) on August 22 announced that it had approved the candidacies of 10 of the original 17 presidential hopefuls, and reported that five independents failed to secure required signatures and would be disqualified. PSP candidate Gilmar Gutierrez [...] |
2006-08-24 21:29:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO2138 | A THOUSAND CHARIOTS IN THE FIELDS: CHINESE PLAYERS [...] (C) Summary: With their $1.4 billion acquisition of Canadian EnCana, China's state oil companies announced their entrance as major players in Ecuador's and the region's petroleum industry. Now with active participation in at least five of Ecuador's petroleum blocks, and with further investmen [...] |
2006-08-25 12:31:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EPET PINR PREL ETRD EC CN |
| 06QUITO2148 | COLOMBIAN SHOTS LEAVE ECUADORIANS WOUNDED [...] (SBU) Colombian military units and FARC rebels exchanged heavy gunfire late in the evening on August 23 in the southern Colombian border town of Tetye, Putumayo. Ecuadorian 19th Jungle Brigade Commander (based in Lago Agrio, Sucumbios province) Colonel Ramiro Caceres confirmed the live fire i [...] |
2006-08-25 18:47:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL MARR MASS MOPS SNAR PTER EC CO |
| 06QUITO2150 | ECUADOR ELECTION: WHAT'S AT STAKE [...] (C) Summary: With the candidates finally defined and the formal campaign period to open on August 29, more Ecuadorians are undecided than have a presidential favorite for first-round elections on October 15. In the past, public disenchantment with the political party elite has favored outsi [...] |
2006-08-28 17:02:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PREL EC |
| 06QUITO2151 | NEW DEFENSE POLICY ADDRESSES NARCOTICS THREAT [...] (U) Summary: Since taking office in August 2005, Defense Minister Oswaldo Jarrin has attempted to shift the focus of Ecuador's defense posture away from its traditional rivalry with Peru towards more current national security threats, including that of narco-terror on Ecuador's northern border [...] |
2006-08-28 19:53:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL MARR MASS MOPS SNAR PTER EC CO |
| 06QUITO2152 | COLOMBIAN SHOTS LEAVE ECUADORIANS WOUNDED [...] (SBU) Colombian military units and FARC rebels exchanged heavy gunfire late in the evening on August 23 in the southern Colombian border town of Tetye, Putumayo. Ecuadorian 19th Jungle Brigade Commander (based in Lago Agrio, Sucumbios province) Colonel Ramiro Caceres confirmed the live fire i [...] |
2006-08-28 19:55:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL MARR MASS MOPS SNAR PTER EC CO |
| 06QUITO2173 | MINDEF'S RESIGNATION SURPRISES MANY [...] (C) Summary: Minister of Defense Oswaldo Jarrin resigned on August 28, citing disagreement with unspecified aspects of relations with Colombia and defending Ecuadorian military participation in the anti-narcotics fight. Jarrin's surprise departure has generated much speculation about the rea [...] |
2006-08-30 19:41:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR MASS MOPS SNAR PTER EC CO |
| 06QUITO2185 | GOE SIGNS MLE; NAVY STRONG U.S. PARTNER IN DRUG [...] (C) Summary: U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Wayne Justice and Ecuadorian Rear Admiral Eduardo Navas signed a Maritime Law Enforcement Agreement (MLE) in Quito on August 30. The MLE standardizes a series of operational procedures for the interdiction and boarding of suspect Ecuadorian vessels, [...] |
2006-08-31 21:30:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR MASS MOPS SNAR PTER EC CO |
| 06QUITO2223 | AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH ROLDOS AND VITERI [...] (C) Summary: The Ambassador met recently with the top two presidential candidates, according to current polls. Both alleged that dark horse candidate Rafael Correa was receiving support from Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, and Viteri lamented that Correa could reach the second round runoff el [...] |
2006-09-06 21:21:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ETRD ECON PREL EC |
| 06QUITO2225 | TITUANA IDENTIFIES WITH PRAGMATIC FACTION OF [...] (U) Summary: The Ambassador's recent visit to the indigenous-majority city of Cotacachi highlighted USG interest in municipal best practices in Ecuador, and opened a dialogue with a key national indigenous leader, Cotacachi mayor Auki Tituana. A counterweight within the main national indige [...] |
2006-09-06 21:51:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO2242 | ELECTIONS UPDATE: 13 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES FINAL [...] (SBU) Summary: The Constitutional Court on September 6 authorized the candidacies of Lenin Torres (Popular Participation Revolution Movement) and Bolivarian candidate Marcelo Larrea (Third Republic Alliance Movement), while denying two other appeals, bringing down the final number of preside [...] |
2006-09-07 22:07:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO2252 | GOE MIXED ON NAM AGENDA [...] (C) Summary: PolChief and PolOff met with MFA Director General for Multilateral Affairs Lourdes Puma on September 7 to deliver RefTel talking points. Puma has attended NAM summits in the past and will also accompany President Palacio to Havana. Puma maintained the GOE is still undecided on [...] |
2006-09-08 15:43:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNGA PTER PHUM CU EC |
| 06QUITO2259 | GOE SUPPORTS PERMANENT UN MIGRATION FORUM [...] (U) Summary: Foreign Minister Carrion will represent the GOE at the UN High Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development (HLD) in New York. The GOE delegation will support a permanent forum. End Summary. 2. (U) On September 7, PolOff met with MFA Ambassador Carlos Lopez, A [...] |
2006-09-08 18:43:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL PREF EAID SMIG UNGA |
| 06QUITO2260 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON IATTC FUNDING CRISIS [...] (U) On September 7 EconOff delivered reftel points to Ambassador Jaime Barberis of the Sovereignty Section of Ecuador's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). 2. (U) Barberis said that he had met with colleagues from the Subsecretariat of Fisheries this morning. He was surprised that Ecuador's [...] |
2006-09-08 18:44:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIS SENV ECON EC |
| 06QUITO2262 | AMB'S TOUR D'HORIZON WITH FM CARRION [...] (C) Summary: In a one-on-one meeting with the Ambassador on September 7, FM Francisco Carrion said the UNSC decision is pending with President Palacio; relations with Colombia have been smoothed over after the recent errant mortar incident; shared his positive impressions of Bolivian FM Davi [...] |
2006-09-08 18:57:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNSC MOPS CO EC |
| 06QUITO2275 | GOE PLEDGES SUPPORT OF IRAN AT NAM [...] (C) The DCM delivered RefTel points on September 12 to Vice Foreign Minister Diego Ribadeneira, conveying USG concerns that some governments may use the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Havana to adopt a common position in support of Iran's nuclear program. The DCM stressed the importance of t [...] |
2006-09-12 22:32:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV IR PHUM PREL PTER IAEA UNSC EC |
| 06QUITO2276 | GOE PLEDGES SUPPORT ON IRAN AT NAM [...] (C) The DCM delivered RefTel points on September 12 to Vice Foreign Minister Diego Ribadeneira, conveying USG concerns that some governments may use the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Havana to adopt a common position in support of Iran's nuclear program. The DCM stressed the importance of t [...] |
2006-09-13 13:05:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV IR PHUM PREL PTER IAEA UNSC EC |
| 06QUITO2289 | MINDEF COMMITS TO NARCOTICS AGENDA, DISSES MANTA [...] (C) Summary: In her initial call on newly appointed Minister of Defense Marcelo Delgado on September 8, the Ambassador stressed the importance of continued USG-GOE counter-narcotics and northern border cooperation and urged progress on security reforms initiated under Delgado's predecessor. [...] |
2006-09-13 21:54:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MARR MASS MOPS SNAR PTER EC CO |
| 06QUITO2294 | NAM:GOE STUDIES DARFUR REQUEST [...] (SBU) The DCM delivered RefTel points on September 13 to Acting Foreign Minister Diego Ribadeneira, conveying USG concern that Sudan might use the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Havana to undermine international efforts to deploy a UN peacekeeping mission to Darfur. The DCM stressed the urgen [...] |
2006-09-14 16:00:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PHUM PINS KPKO UNSC KDEM PGOV EC SU |
| 06QUITO2305 | USAID GIFT PROJECTS IN ECUADOR [...] (U) In response to reftel, Post submits the following program information, supplied by USAID Ecuador: A. Project name: Rural Telecenters Recipient: World Council of Credit Unions and Credit Unions in Ecuador Project description: Through providing technical assistance and financial sup [...] |
2006-09-15 19:03:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID EINT ECPS EC |
| 06QUITO2309 | ELECTION UPDATE: CORREA MOVES INTO SECOND PLACE [...] (C) Summary: Radical populist candidate Rafael Correa surged ahead of Social Christian candidate Cynthia Viteri in recent polls, moving into second place after front-runner Leon Roldos. With first round presidential elections just a month away on October 15, undecided voters have declined to [...] |
2006-09-15 20:17:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | KDEM PGOV PREL MARR EC |
| 06QUITO2315 | GOE'S UNGA PRINCIPALS: EXPERIENCED PERMREP, [...] (C) Summary: This report on the GOE's UNGA principals responds to questions posed by the Department in Ref A. The GOE has an experienced and capable UN PermRep in Diego Cordovez. Relations between President Alfredo Palacio and FM Francisco Carrion are generally close, but include tensions [...] |
2006-09-15 20:52:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL PINR UN EC |
| 06QUITO2351 | GOE TO HOST ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS [...] (U) Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Francisco Carrion on September 12 announced that the GOE would host a meeting of the UN's Alliance of Civilizations in Quito September 24-25. Carrion stressed the importance of the initiative and said the meeting would help identify areas for increased communic [...] |
2006-09-19 22:04:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL UN IO EC |
| 06QUITO2352 | ECUADOR'S FRAGILE SUPREME COURT FIGHTS SCANDAL [...] (U) Summary: Former congressman Renan Borbua turned his messy political trial into a corruption scandal directed at Supreme Court Justice Alfonso Zambrano when he presented video evidence of the Justice's son asking for a bribe. After over a week of public uproar and press, the Supreme Court [...] |
2006-09-19 22:33:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL |
| 06QUITO2356 | UN CD MINISTERIAL DEMARCHE CONVEYED TO GOE [...] No summary [...] |
2006-09-20 22:18:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | UNGA PHUM KDEM PREL EC |
| 06QUITO2357 | CORREA TIES OR BEATS ROLDOS IN LATEST POLLS [...] (U) Summary: Far-left Presidential candidate Rafael Correa is in a statistical dead heat with Leon Roldos in all national polls, while Cynthia Viteri has slipped to a more distant third. Feeling the pressure, Roldos has more aggressively questioned Correa's funding sources and Viteri report [...] |
2006-09-20 22:35:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL EC |
| 06QUITO2384 | ECUADOR-COLOMBIA BORDER PROGRESS REPORT - [...] (C) Summary: The following report provides a quarterly update of developments along Ecuador's northern border with Colombia. Highlights include the Ambassador's travel to Esmeraldas province, progress disrupting narco-trafficking, a change of Defense Minister, and renewed diplomatic tension [...] |
2006-09-26 21:15:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR MASS MOPS SNAR PTER EC CO |
| 06QUITO2386 | ECUADOR EVALUATES HURRIED CONCESSION OF [...] (C) Summary: Ecuador's Hydrocarbons Vice-Minister reports that Chinese company Sinopec has made a strong offer to develop Ecuador's large ITT oil fields and the GOE is considering soliciting bids for the field before the Palacio government leaves in January. Post and industry insiders view [...] |
2006-09-27 15:55:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL |