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| Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08QUITO161 |
ECUADOR 2008 SPECIAL 301 REPORT [...] (SBU) Summary and recommendation. Post concurs with PhRMA recommendation that Ecuador remain on the Special 301 Watch List for 2008. Overall protection for IPR goods has not changed significantly over the past year, although the Ecuadorian Intellectual Property Institute (IEPI) has new, mor [...] |
2008-02-21 17:15:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KIPR ETRD ECON EC |
| 08QUITO164 |
PETROBRAS THREATENED WITH CONTRACT CANCELLATION [...] (C) Summary: Ecuador's Solicitor General recommended that Petrobras's contract be cancelled for transferring shares of its holding to a Japanese company without government authorization (very similar charges as those that led to the cancellation of Occidental's contract in 2006). The Brazili [...] |
2008-02-21 19:25:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON PREL EC |
| 08QUITO17 |
ECUADOR COMPLETES CABINET RE-SHUFFLE [...] (SBU) Summary: President Correa completed his end of year cabinet reorganization, highlighted by Gustavo Larrea's return to government as Coordinating Minister for Internal and External Security, essentially switching portfolios with Fernando Bustamante, who became Minister of Government. Com [...] |
2008-01-04 21:29:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV EPET EFIN EC |
| 08QUITO190 |
ECUADOR DEMARCH RESPONSE: SOMALIA AND PIRACY [...] (SBU) PolOff delivered reftel points to MFA Multilateral Affairs Director General Lourdes Puma on February 27. Puma noted that she was aware of the issues regarding piracy and Somalia, but that Ecuador had not yet developed a position on possible courses of action. 2. (SBU) PolOff stress [...] |
2008-02-27 21:00:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | KCRM PBTS PREL UN UNSC IMO EC SO |
| 08QUITO191 |
Foreign Investment Flows into Ecuador: 2007 Better than a [...] (SBU) Summary. Foreign direct investment in Ecuador totaled $471 million in the first nine months of 2007. This reflects a rebound from 2006, when the net investment flows were reduced by the departure of U.S. and Canadian oil companies. As a result, investment in petroleum and from the U.S [...] |
2008-02-28 13:22:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV EPET ECON EC |
| 08QUITO196 |
ECUADOR ECON WEEKLY: Assembly Debates Law of the Sea, Tax [...] (U) The following is a weekly economic update for Ecuador that reports notable developments that are not reported by individual cables. Assembly Debates Law of the Sea ------------------------------- 2. (U) On February 21 Jaime Barberis, Under Secretary for Sovereignty of the Ministry o [...] |
2008-02-28 19:22:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON PHSA EFIN EPET PREL EC |
| 08QUITO197 |
SUBJECT: ECUADOR LOOKING TO TERMINATE INVESTMENT [...] (C) Summary. Ecuador will attempt to negotiate early termination of its bilateral investment treaties (BITs) with nine small countries, according to the Foreign Ministry's Under Secretary for Trade. In the interim, all of Ecuador's BITs remain in force. In response to the Foreign Minister's [...] |
2008-02-28 19:28:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EINV ECON EC |
| 08QUITO212 |
ECUADOR PROSECUTES LANDMARK MONEY LAUNDERING CASE [...] (SBU) Summary: On February 18, Ecuador convicted seven associates of Hernan Prada-Cortez, a drug trafficker involved in money laundering. The convictions are the result of an Ecuadorian national police investigation, in concert with DEA, which yielded ten arrests and the seizure of assets in [...] |
2008-03-03 15:09:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR ECON EFIN KTFN EC |
| 08QUITO215 |
ECUADOR REACTION TO COLOMBIAN OPERATION AGAINST [...] (C) Summary. Although the Correa administration's reaction to the news of the Colombian military's operation against the FARC in Ecuadorian territory was initially cautious, the GOE's position increasingly hardened after learning that the operation was not a "hot pursuit" scenario but planne [...] |
2008-03-03 23:14:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER MOPS EC CO |
| 08QUITO216 |
AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT CORREA ON [...] (C) Summary: Meeting with the Ambassador on March 3, President Correa expressed outrage at President Uribe for bombing his country, saying he expected the international community to condemn unprovoked aggression. He said the GOE had no relationship with the FARC, and accepted the Ambassador [...] |
2008-03-03 23:28:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER MOPS EC CO PE BR VE NU |
| 08QUITO219 |
ECUADORIANS SUPPORT CORREA BUT WANT FARC OUT [...] (SBU) Summary. A day after President Correa announced that Ecuador cut diplomatic relations with Colombia, the Constituent Assembly suspended its normal business to discuss the Colombian incursion. The Assembly is expected to adopt a resolution condemning the Colombian incursion. The text i [...] |
2008-03-04 21:11:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER MOPS EC CO |
| 08QUITO220 |
ECUADOR ECON WEEKLY: Oil Contract Renegotiations; Limits on [...] (U) The following is a weekly economic update for Ecuador that reports notable developments that are not reported by individual cables. Oil Contract Negotiations Inching Forward ----------------------------------------- 2. (SBU) On February 26, the Ministry of Petroleum and Mines report [...] |
2008-03-05 15:14:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EPET EFIN EINV SENV EC |
| 08QUITO221 |
RESOLUTION ON COLOMBIAN INCURSION PASSED BY [...] (SBU) With a vote of 116 assembly members present, the Constituent Assembly unanimously passed a resolution (Reftel) on March 4 condemning the Colombian incursion on March 1 as violation of national sovereignty and an act of aggression that constitutes a threat to all of Latin America in regi [...] |
2008-03-05 21:06:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL MOPS EC CO |
| 08QUITO223 |
ECUADOR: THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY'S THREE MONTH [...] (SBU) Summary: Half way into the Constituent Assembly's six month tenure, the Ecuadorian people have finally obtained a glimpse of what their new constitution might look like. President CorreaQs Proud and Sovereign Fatherland (PAIS) political movement prepared a proposal for the structure of [...] |
2008-03-06 17:30:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV MARR SNAR EC |
| 08QUITO225 |
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF RAINS AND FLOODING TOPS $125 MILLION [...] (U) Summary: Following a month of heavy rains in Ecuador, agricultural losses due to extensive flooding now total nearly $91 million. Repairing roads will likely cost more than $35 million. The Ecuadorian and U.S. weather services estimate the rains will continue through at least mid-March, [...] |
2008-03-06 20:10:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EAGR EFIN EAID ELTN SENV SOCI EC |
| 08QUITO226 |
CITY ORIENTE CONTINUES TO NEGOTIATE; DEPARTURE THE [...] (C) Summary. U.S. oil company City Oriente continues to negotiate with the Government of Ecuador on restructuring its contract following the imposition of a windfall income tax. The most likely option is that City Oriente will terminate its contract and receive compensation from the GOE. Ren [...] |
2008-03-07 18:08:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ECON EC |
| 08QUITO228 |
ECUADORIAN TROOP MOVEMENTS, FARC CAPTURES, FOL [...] (S) SUMMARY. Ecuador's Fourth Division Army Commander Narvaez confirmed on March 4 that he had modestly increased border zone deployments but was operating fairly normally, and that the Division's primary mission was still to pursue the FARC. Five suspected FARC insurgents were captured near [...] |
2008-03-07 22:35:00 | Embassy Quito | SECRET | PREL MOPS PTER EC CO MX SP |
| 08QUITO232 |
ECUADOR FISCAL TRANSPARENCY REPORT 2008 [...] The Government of Ecuador is recipient of U.S. assistance monies under the FY2008 Foreign Operations Appropriations Act. The following is a narrative on fiscal transparency in Ecuador, as requested in reftel. The Government of Ecuador publishes budget data, which is reasonably transparent [...] |
2008-03-11 10:47:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID EFIN ECON PREL EC |
| 08QUITO247 |
AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT CORREA [...] (C) Summary: Meeting with the Ambassador on March 12, President Correa made clear that he wanted to continue working with the United States, including in Ecuador's northern border region. He again vehemently denied an inappropriate relationship with the FARC, saying that would not be in his [...] |
2008-03-12 20:58:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER MARR EC CO VE |
| 08QUITO248 |
FOR CORREA, DISPUTE WITH COLOMBIA NOT OVER [...] (C) Summary. The GOE plans to re-establish relations with Colombia by the end of March, although XXXXXXXXXXX noted "it will be difficult to restore trust." Correa made his most anti-U.S. statements to date on March 8, criticizing U.S. support for Colombia and U.S. media dominance. On the ot [...] |
2008-03-12 21:17:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PHUM MARR EC CO VE MX |
| 08QUITO251 |
AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT CORREA [...] (C) Summary: Meeting with the Ambassador on March 12, President Correa made clear that he wanted to continue working with the United States, including in Ecuador's northern border region. He again vehemently denied an inappropriate relationship with the FARC, saying that would not be in his [...] |
2008-03-13 18:38:00 | Embassy Quito | SECRET | PREL PTER MARR EC CO VE |
| 08QUITO259 |
ECUADOR ECON WEEKLY: ECUADOR TO PAY OXY VAT AWARD; GOE [...] (U) The following is a weekly economic update for Ecuador that reports notable developments that are not reported by individual cables. Ecuador Announces Publicly It Will Pay OXY ------------------------------------------ 2. (U) On March 12 the Ecuadorian media reported that Ecuador had [...] |
2008-03-14 18:10:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EPET EINV SENV EC |
| 08QUITO263 |
AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH DEFENSE MINISTER SANDOVAL [...] (C) Summary: During a positive March 13 meeting with Defense Minister Sandoval, the Ambassador emphasized that we value our relationships with both Colombia and Ecuador and want to continue supporting GOE efforts on the Northern Border. Sandoval recognized how inadequate his resources were [...] |
2008-03-14 19:24:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER MARR MOPS EC CO |
| 08QUITO264 |
ECUADOR: GOE OFFICIALS URGE COOPERATION WHILE [...] (C) Summary. In a series of meetings and phone calls, MFA and MOD officials have sought to maintain positive bilateral relations with the U.S. as well as to communicate GOE efforts against the FARC (see also reftels). The GOE also launched a media campaign to deny and counter continued accu [...] |
2008-03-14 21:02:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS PTER PGOV EC CO SP |
| 08QUITO267 |
Natural Disasters Increase Short-Term Inflation [...] Summary. Ecuador's inflation rose in the first two months of 2008 due in large part natural disasters, namely severe flooding and a volcanic eruption. Additionally, rising global inflationary pressure, particularly for food, contributed to Ecuador's inflationary up-tick. However, Ecuador's [...] |
2008-03-18 13:21:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN ETRD EC |
| 08QUITO288 |
ECUADORIAN CASUALTY IN ATTACK COMPLICATES [...] (C) Summary: The GOC confirmation of an Ecuadorian casualty in the March 1 attack has raised bilateral tensions again between Ecuador and Colombia, and will likely delay any formal re-establishment of diplomatic relations. As the Correa administration continues its hard line with Colombia, [...] |
2008-03-26 10:22:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER EC CO |
| 08QUITO293 |
ECUADOR'S OIL CONTRACT RENEGOTATIONS SLOWER THAN [...] (SBU) Summary: Despite press reports that the GOE is in the final stages of renegotiating oil contracts with international companies, U.S., Spanish, and Chinese companies tell us that negotiations continue, and that agreement on international arbitration is a problem. U.S. company City Orie [...] |
2008-03-26 20:29:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ECON EC |
| 08QUITO294 |
U.S. COMPANY LEADS SUCCESSFUL WIND ENERGY PROJECT IN [...] (U) Summary: The multilateral Galapagos Wind Energy Project dedicated its wind-turbine project, largely funded by private sector companies, on the Galapagos's San Cristobal island on March 18. Project leader American Electric Power (AEP) says that on windy days, the project provides 80% of Sa [...] |
2008-03-27 12:35:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON TRGY SENV UNDP UNEP EINV PGOV TINT EC |
| 08QUITO297 |
SFRC STAFFDEL CARL MEACHAM VISIT TO QUITO [...] (SBU) Summary. Senior Professional Staff Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Carl Meacham, during a visit to Quito on March 19, focused on the March 1 attack on a FARC camp in Ecuador and on Ecuador-Colombia relations. Meacham met separately with officials of the Ministries of F [...] |
2008-03-28 10:22:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER MARR EC CO VE |
| 08QUITO30 |
ECUADOR: ASSEMBLY AND CORREA DECLINE IN POLLS [...] (SBU) Summary: With more than a month's work under its belt and little progress thus far, public opinion polls are showing a sharp decline in the Constituent Assembly's popularity. Though still widely popular, on the eve of his first anniversary in office, President Correa's approval number [...] |
2008-01-09 17:21:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO301 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE: IRAN, IAEA AND UNSCR [...] (SBU) Poloff delivered points and non-papers for reftels B and C on March 4 and for reftel D on March 10 to the MFA's Directorate General of Multilateral Affairs. Due to extensive travel and other commitments, including an active role in addressing the Ecuador-Colombia crisis at the OAS, MFA [...] |
2008-03-28 20:07:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP MNUC PARM ECON IAEA NSG EC IR |
| 08QUITO307 |
CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY'S BUSY, SEMI-PRODUCTIVE 4TH [...] (C) Summary: During its fourth month of work, the Constituent Assembly actively engaged in drafting constitutional articles on the judiciary, the electoral function, and fundamental rights, among other topics, but failed to approve a single article. Assembly members spent much of their time d [...] |
2008-04-01 19:43:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ELAB PTER ECON EC CO |
| 08QUITO312 |
ECUADOR TAKES COLOMBIA TO ICJ ON SPRAYING [...] (C) Summary: Ecuador filed suit at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague on March 31, seeking a decision by the ICJ that Colombian spraying violated Ecuador's sovereignty and requiring Colombia to refrain from further aerial spraying and pay reparations to Ecuadorians for all [...] |
2008-04-02 18:44:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SNAR PHUM ICJ EC CO |
| 08QUITO314 |
ECUADOR PAYS OXY VAT AWARD [...] (SBU) Summary. Ecuador paid Occidental Petroleum $100 million to settle an arbitration ruling that the GOE has to refund Oxy for value-added taxes that Oxy had paid. In addition, the GOE placed $32 million into escrow pending the outcome of a second arbitration case filed by Oxy. End summa [...] |
2008-04-03 11:46:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EINV EPET EC |
| 08QUITO315 |
ECUADOR ECON WEEKLY: WORLD CLASS GOLD DEPOSIT, [...] (U) The following is a weekly economic update for Ecuador that reports notable developments that are not reported by individual cables. Mining Developments ------------------- 2. (U) The press reported for the first time on March 14 that Aurelian Resources (Canada) had discovered the wo [...] |
2008-04-04 11:02:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EMIN ELAB EINV EC |
| 08QUITO322 |
Minister States GOE Will Pay $38 Million in Arrears to [...] (SBU) Summary. The Minister of Electricity publicly announced that the GOE would pay $38 million of the arrears due to U.S. electricity company Machala Power. Machala Power reports that the GOE has said it intends pay all of the $70 million in arrears, but needs to develop a legal mechanism [...] |
2008-04-07 14:14:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV ENRG EPET EC |
| 08QUITO323 |
CHEVRON DISPUTES REPORT BY ECUADORIAN [...] (U) Summary: A court-appointed "expert" in a long-running legal case in Ecuador announced on April 1 that Chevron should pay up to $16 billion for alleged environmental damage. Chevron immediately disputed the announcement and charged the expert as unqualified and biased. Chevron continue [...] |
2008-04-07 17:58:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV EPET EC |
| 08QUITO324 |
CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY ELIMINATES PETROLEUM FUNDS, GRANTS [...] (U) Summary: The Constituent Assembly approved a law, drafted by the Correa Administration, that closes the petroleum reserve funds and moves that financing on to the regular budget. It stipulates that those resources can only be used for investment, and establishes a broad budget requirement [...] |
2008-04-07 18:58:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EPET PGOV EINV EC |
| 08QUITO327 |
AMBASSADOR RESPONDS TO CORREA'S HARSH CRITICISM OF [...] (SBU) President Rafael Correa, in an April 4 television interview in Loja and again in his April 5 weekly radio address, stated that the GOE would take severe measures to address what he termed Ecuador's intelligence services' failure to provide him complete, timely and accurate information. [...] |
2008-04-08 19:23:00 | Embassy Quito | SECRET | PREL PGOV PINR PTER MOPS EC CO |
| 08QUITO330 |
ECUADOR MILITARY MOBILIZES TO NORTHERN BORDER [...] (S/NF) Summary: Despite the break in diplomatic relations with Colombia which has suspended bilateral cooperation with the GOC, the Ecuadorian military has not reduced the intensity of its operations against the FARC near the northern border, which it began in November 2007. To the contrary [...] |
2008-04-09 18:11:00 | Embassy Quito | SECRET//NOFORN | MOPS MCAP MASS PTER PREL EC CO |
| 08QUITO331 |
CORREA REPLACES DEFENSE MINISTER WITH CLOSE AIDE [...] (C) Summary: The GOE announced Minister of Defense (MOD) Wellington Sandoval's resignation April 9, after accusations by President Correa of U.S. infiltration of Ecuador's intelligence agencies. Javier Ponce Cevallos, the Personal Secretary to the President, was sworn in as MOD in the same [...] |
2008-04-09 19:28:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 08QUITO345 |
ECUADOR ECON WEEKLY: GOE-USAID ECONOMIC STRATEGY; PETROBRAS [...] (U) The following is a weekly economic update for Ecuador that reports notable developments that are not reported by individual cables. Correa Approves USAID economic growth strategy --------------------------------------------- - 2. (SBU) President Correa has agreed to support a sectora [...] |
2008-04-16 11:22:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EAID ETRD EPET EINV EAGR EC |
| 08QUITO346 |
ECUADOR NEGOTIATING NEW MOBILE TELEPHONE [...] (SBU) Summary: The government of Ecuador is seeking approximately $500 million from each of the two largest cellular companies in Ecuador, to renew the companies' concession contracts. On April 5, Telefonica announced that it agreed on an undisclosed price for a 15-year contract extension; [...] |
2008-04-16 17:02:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV EINT EC |
| 08QUITO349 |
CONOCO WILL FILE FOR INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION [...] (C) Summary. ConocoPhillips plans to initiate arbitration against Ecuador under the terms of its oil production and exploration contracts. For two production blocks that it shares with the French company Perenco, it appears the underlying grounds for arbitration are the windfall income tax [...] |
2008-04-18 12:47:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EINV EPET ECON EC |
| 08QUITO35 |
UNPARALLELED MAJORITY: THE STRENGTH OF ECUADOR'S [...] (SBU) Summary: Despite recent declines in public opinion polls (reftel) President Correa's Proud and Sovereign Fatherland (PAIS) movement, which dominates Ecuador's Constituent Assembly, remains the strongest political organization that the country has seen since returning to democracy in 197 [...] |
2008-01-10 19:39:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO351 |
GOVERNMENT OF ECUADOR WHIPSAWS OIL COMPANIES [...] (SBU) Summary: After months of negotiations with international oil companies, the Government of Ecuador has announced that it will suspend negotiations for another six months, in an effort to migrate all agreements to risk-service contracts. This development will likely delay investment in [...] |
2008-04-18 16:13:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ECON EC |
| 08QUITO353 |
AMBASSADOR HAS POSITIVE MEETING WITH NEW DEFENSE [...] (C) Summary: The Ambassador met with new Minister of Defense (MOD) Javier Ponce on April 18, their first meeting in his new role as MOD. Atmospherics were positive. Ponce said he favored completing a diplomatic note exchange to provide protections for temporary duty U.S. military personnel [...] |
2008-04-18 19:00:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR MASS KTIA OVIP EC |
| 08QUITO357 |
FRESH EXCHANGE OF ACCUSATIONS PROLONG TENSIONS [...] (C) Summary: President Correa's rhetoric regarding the Colombian attack during his April 11-12 visit to Mexico set off another round of accusations between the GOE and GOC. This latest stand-off appears to have again polarized Ecuador and Colombia's positions, prompting another visit by OAS [...] |
2008-04-22 16:44:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV AORC EC CO |
| 08QUITO358 |
GOE REVIEWS MILITARY COOPERATION WITH USG [...] (C) Summary: New Minister of Defense Javier Ponce declared on April 12 that the Defense Ministry will review cooperation with the USG to avoid adverse influence, while Ecuadorian military officials continued to privately communicate the need for continued cooperation. Recent changes in lead [...] |
2008-04-22 16:56:00 | Embassy Quito | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PGOV EAID PTER PINR MASS SNAR EC |
| 08QUITO36 |
GOE INSTITUTES PRICE CONTROLS ON MILK [...] (SBU) Summary: The Correa administration instituted its first mandatory price controls January 2, in an attempt to lower rising milk prices. Industrial farmers and milk processors say the new prices don't cover their production costs; subsistence farmers support the controls. The measure co [...] |
2008-01-10 19:50:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD EAGR EC |
| 08QUITO363 |
INSIDE THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY: AN OPPOSITION VIEW [...] (C) Summary: Opposition member Pablo Lucio Paredes shared his observations on the Constituent Assembly's inner workings and likely outcomes. He reported that President Correa will resign to campaign for a new term under the new constitution, and that a small number of Assembly members will [...] |
2008-04-23 19:56:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EFIN ECON EC |
| 08QUITO365 |
MINING REFORM: SEARCHING FOR A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH [...] (C) Summary: The Constituent Assembly approved a measure cancelling thousands of largely unused mining concessions. Concessions that have been explored but not yet in operation will be frozen for six months until a new mining law is finalized. Small mining concessions and mines that are al [...] |
2008-04-24 14:02:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EMIN EINV ENRG EPET ECON PREL SENV EC |
| 08QUITO366 |
URBAN POLLUTION IN ECUADOR [...] (U) Summary: Like many Andean nations, Ecuador is experiencing problems with pollution. The level of hazardous organic compounds in Quito's air are twice that recommended by the World Health Organization and exceed EPA norms, and studies indicate that Quito residents suffer from an elevated [...] |
2008-04-24 14:27:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SENV ECON SOCI EC |
| 08QUITO369 |
CLIMATE CHANGE IN ECUADOR [...] (U) Summary: For years Ecuador has been experiencing symptoms of climate change such as glacial melting. This year, erratic weather is also leaving its mark on the country. Studies of the country's glaciers show a retreat of at least 28% in the last ten years. Scientists are concerned bec [...] |
2008-04-24 19:59:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SENV ECON SMIG SOCI EC |
| 08QUITO371 |
ECUADORIAN VIEW ON PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE [...] (SBU) Poloff delivered demarche on the United States - European Union declaration on Prisoners of Conscience (reftel) and presented draft declaration language to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General for Human Rights Augusto Saa April 24. Saa said that the Ministry was previously unaw [...] |
2008-04-24 21:55:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EUN PHUM PREL PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO374 |
ECUADOR ECON WEEKLY: FALLING FDI, REVISED PRICE CONTROLS, [...] (U) The following is a weekly economic update for Ecuador that reports notable developments that are not reported by individual cables. Investment Outflows Driven by the Petroleum Sector --------------------------------------------- ----- 2. (SBU) Net foreign direct investment (FDI) in [...] |
2008-04-25 21:37:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV EPET EAGR EFIN EC |
| 08QUITO394 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE: TRAVEL BAN REQUIREMENTS [...] (SBU) PolOff delivered Ref A points on April 30 to Lourdes Puma, MFA Director General of Multilateral Affairs, who had been previously unavailable due to her travel and participation in the EU-Andean Community negotiations. 2. (C) Puma reiterated the position she communicated in response [...] |
2008-04-30 22:59:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | MNUC KNNP IR UNSC EC |
| 08QUITO395 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE: KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE [...] (U) See Action Request in Para. 4. 2. (C) In February, although President Correa indicated that Ecuador would recognize Kosovo, Vice Foreign Minister Jose Valencia told the DCM that the GOE wanted to work within a Latin American consensus position and was attempting to consult with region [...] |
2008-04-30 23:06:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN UNMIK EC KV YI |
| 08QUITO396 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE: SYRIA'S CLANDESTINE [...] (SBU) PolOff delivered reftel points on April 30 to Lourdes Puma, MFA Director General of Multilateral Affairs, who had been previously unavailable due to travel and her participation in the EU-Andean Community negotiations. 2. (C) Puma said that she was unaware of the Israeli Air Force m [...] |
2008-04-30 23:11:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP DPRK SY IAEA PARM PREL EC |
| 08QUITO397 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE: NPT PREPARATORY COMMITTEE MEETING [...] (SBU) PolOff delivered reftel points and U.S. proposed papers to the MFA's Multilateral Affairs Directorate on April 23, 2008. We received a response on April 30 from Lourdes Puma, MFA Director General of Multilateral Affairs, who had been previously unavailable due to travel and her partici [...] |
2008-05-05 12:38:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PARM KNNP MNUC PREL NPT IAEA EC ENRG |
| 08QUITO402 |
ECUADOR: CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY PICKS UP THE PACE [...] (SBU) Summary: During the last month, the Constituent Assembly managed to approve its first 17 constitutional articles, as well as a committee report on Colombia-Ecuador tensions and the alleged U.S. role in the March 1 attack. While President Correa,s Proud and Sovereign Fatherland movement [...] |
2008-05-06 16:39:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ELAB MARR PTER ECON EC |
| 08QUITO404 |
THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM? CORREA'S NEW TRANSPORT [...] (SBU) Summary: Ambassador met with the third Transport Minister of President Correa's administration, Jorge Marun, on May 5, and was told that President Correa "wants an Open Skies agreement." Marun, a civil engineer by trade who is from the agricultural province of Bolivar, has the air of a [...] |
2008-05-06 21:15:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRN EAIR SENV EC |
| 08QUITO415 |
ECUADOR APPROVES CONTENTIOUS MOBILE CONCESSION [...] (SBU) Summary: After a week of tense brinksmanship, the Government of Ecuador has come to agreement with America Movil subsidiary and majority market share holder Porta, to renew its mobile phone concession for 15 years. While the company has been silent, the press has speculated it will pay [...] |
2008-05-08 22:30:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ECPS ECON EINV EC |
| 08QUITO416 |
RESPONSE: IMPACT OF RISING FOOD/COMMODITY PRICES - ECUADOR [...] (U) This is a response cable to State 39410 (ref A), detailing the impact of rising food and agricultural commodity prices in Ecuador. 2. Summary: Price increases in food products contributed to 62% of 2007 inflation in Ecuador, due to increasing global prices for commodities and Ecuador [...] |
2008-05-09 16:30:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAGR ETRD ECON PREL EC |
| 08QUITO427 |
ECUADOR PLANS TO REORGANIZE TELECOM SECTOR [...] (SBU) Summary: Fresh from the successful renegotiation of its two private mobile phone concessions, the government of Ecuador is planning the possible reorganization of its telecom sector, including the eventual creation of a telecommunications ministry and consolidation of Ecuador's three s [...] |
2008-05-13 22:09:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ECPS ECON EINV EC |
| 08QUITO430 |
ECUADOR RESPONSE TO GLOBAL INITIATIVE DEMARCHE [...] (SBU) The DCM, together with Spanish Minister Counselor Javier Triana Jimenez and Russian First Secretary Alexander Bochanov, delivered reftel demarche on the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism to MFA Multilateral Affairs Under Secretary Emilio Izquierdo on May 12. The group provid [...] |
2008-05-14 19:52:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER KGIC PARM PREL EC |
| 08QUITO433 |
CORREA ADMINISTRATION COUNTEROFFENSIVE ON [...] (C) Summary: In the lead-up to the May 15 release of the Interpol report on the seized FARC computers, the Correa government is trying to strengthen its position through accusations against Colombia and the United States, a European trip aimed at garnering support for Ecuador's stance, and an angry [...] |
2008-05-15 12:38:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER MOPS EC CO SP FR BE NU |
| 08QUITO434 |
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS LENIN MORENO? [...] (C) Summary: Vice President Lenin Moreno has failed to carve out a significant policy role during the first 18 months of the Correa administration, and recent ill-health has further limited Moreno's role within the GOE. He remains popular with the public, but does not appear to have aspirat [...] |
2008-05-15 16:56:00 | Embassy Quito | SECRET | PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO439 |
ECUADOR ECON WEEKLY: APRIL INFLATION; BANK OF THE SOUTH; [...] (U) The following is a weekly economic update for Ecuador that reports notable developments that are not reported by individual cables. Intervention of Banking Cooperative ----------------------------------- 2. (U) On May 7, the Superintendent of Banks announced that Mutualista Benalcaz [...] |
2008-05-15 19:21:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EAID ETRD EINV EC |
| 08QUITO442 |
CORREA ADOPTS USAID-DESIGNED PROGRAM TO PROMOTE ECUADOR'S [...] (SBU) Summary: At the close of a two hour meeting with President Rafael Correa on May 9, Correa adopted USAID's proposed production and investment promotion program. The program is market-driven, private sector oriented, and designed to improve Ecuador's competitiveness in world markets. At t [...] |
2008-05-16 19:49:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EAID EINV PREL EC |
| 08QUITO452 |
CARRIERS STILL FIGHTING QUITO AIRPORT FEES [...] (SBU) Summary: Resolution remains elusive in the drawn-out debate over charges paid by international air carriers to the Quito airport concession operator Quiport. Quiport offered to defer all airport fee increases until the new airport opens in 2010, but the airlines disagree with a contrac [...] |
2008-05-22 21:10:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EAIR EINV EFIN EC |
| 08QUITO459 |
ECUADOR ECON WEEKLY: NEW OIL ARBITRATION CASES; IDB LOANS; [...] (U) The following is a weekly economic update for Ecuador that reports notable developments that are not reported by individual cables. Two New Oil Arbitration Cases --------------------------- 2. (U) Ecuadorian press reported that French petroleum company Perenco and its U.S. partner, [...] |
2008-05-27 17:05:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN EINV EPET ETRD EC |
| 08QUITO464 |
PETROECUADOR PRESIDENT RESIGNS OVER DECLINING [...] (U) Summary: Following harsh words from President Correa about state oil company Petroecuador's inability to meet petroleum production projections, its President Fernando Zurita resigned on May 20. He was replaced by another Navy Admiral, Luis Jaramillo, who will attempt to increase producti [...] |
2008-05-28 20:37:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ECON EINV DOD EC |
| 08QUITO477 |
GUTIERREZ PARTY DOWN BUT NOT OUT [...] (C) Summary: The Patriotic Society Party, although discredited and diminished, has not lost the fire in its belly or the support of an important segment of the Ecuadorian public. Its leader, former president Lucio Gutierrez, regained his political rights in May. The party is strongly on th [...] |
2008-06-02 19:32:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER ECON EC |
| 08QUITO48 |
AGREEMENT WITH ECUADOR ON STATUS OF FORCES FOR [...] (SBU) On January 16, PolChief and MilGroup Commander delivered proposed text of diplomatic note and talking points from Reftel in a meeting with MFA Under Secretary of Sovereignty Affairs Jaime Barberis, MFA Legal Advisor Gonzalo Salvador, and MOD Chief of Ministerial Cabinet COL Galo Cruz. [...] |
2008-01-15 18:40:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | KTIA MARR MOPS PM PREL EC |
| 08QUITO482 |
EU-CAN NEGOTIATIONS - NOT DEAD YET [...] (C) Summary: Andean Community members Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru had agreed to continue negotiating an association agreement with the EU as a bloc, but EU representatives report Bolivia is obstructing progress. The EU may now allow countries to opt out of the commercial section of [...] |
2008-06-03 15:40:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD EC |
| 08QUITO488 |
SCENESETTER FOR SOUTHCOM COMMANDER VISIT TO QUITO [...] (C) Please accept a warm welcome on your first visit to Ecuador on June 9-12. Your visit comes at a time of opportunities, risks and change as Ecuador carries out political and economic reforms through its Constituent Assembly. It is also a time of significant change in military leadership. [...] |
2008-06-04 23:34:00 | Embassy Quito | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL MASS MOPS SNAR PTER EAID MARR OVIP EC CO |
| 08QUITO489 |
ECUADOR: CONFLICTS EMERGE AS CONSTITUTION BEGINS [...] (C) Summary: Recent polling data show negative approval ratings for the Constituent Assembly, which has only two more months to approve approximately 80 percent of the new constitution. The articles approved so far are heavy on principles and lofty ideals, while most of the tough decisions o [...] |
2008-06-05 00:57:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON EC |
| 08QUITO497 |
PRESIDENT CORREA'S RESPONSE TO AMBASSADOR ON MANTA [...] (C) Acting on interagency instructions contained in Ref A, the Ambassador raised the future of the U.S. Forward Operating Location (FOL) in Manta with President Correa on the margins of a farewell luncheon June 4. She said the USG understands that the GOE does not support renewing the exist [...] |
2008-06-05 21:28:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR MOPS EC |
| 08QUITO498 |
FM TELLS CODEL DODD THAT ECUADOR WANTS PEACE, [...] (C) SUMMARY: Senator Christopher Dodd and Representative Xavier Becerra visited Ecuador May 30-31 and met with four senior cabinet ministers. Foreign Minister Maria Isabel Salvador described in detail Ecuador's discontent with Colombia's violation of its border on March 1, but stressed that E [...] |
2008-06-05 21:52:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON EFIN EC |
| 08QUITO499 |
CORREA FAREWELL LUNCHEON FOR AMBASSADOR [...] (C) President Correa hosted a June 4 farewell luncheon for the Ambassador at Carondelet Palace. Correa's wife and two of their three children participated, as did the Ambassador's family. Relaxed and informal, Correa expressed his thanks to the Ambassador for her friendship for him and for [...] |
2008-06-05 23:23:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PHUM EC CO |
| 08QUITO504 |
FINAL AGREEMENT WITH ECUADOR ON STATUS OF FORCES [...] (C) Following the meeting with GOE officials on January 9, 2008, and providing the modified text in draft format as per Refs A and C, Post has engaged the GOE on numerous occasions to stress the importance of completion of the exchange of diplomatic notes. Bureaucratic hurdles, multiple chan [...] |
2008-06-06 21:18:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | KTIA MARR MOPS PM PREL US EC |
| 08QUITO505 |
Shooting the Messenger: Correa Blasts Central Bank for [...] (U) Summary. President Correa harshly criticized the Central Bank's calculation of economic growth and foreign direct investment, adding that he was bringing an Argentine mission to review the data and threatened to fire Central Bank staff if there are errors. Finance Minister Ortiz subsequen [...] |
2008-06-09 15:13:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV EFIN EC |
| 08QUITO52 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE: RESOLVING KOSOVO'S [...] (C) PolChief delivered reftel points to MFA Under Secretary of Multilateral Affairs Ambassador Emilio Izquierdo SIPDIS Mino and Director General of Multilateral Affairs Lourdes Puma Puma on January 11. Ambassador Izquierdo said that they were not closely following the situation regarding K [...] |
2008-01-16 20:06:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN UNMIK YI EC |
| 08QUITO53 |
SCENESETTER FOR SECDEF MEETING WITH ECUADORIAN MOD [...] (C) Please accept my thanks for receiving Dr. Wellington Sandoval, the Ecuadorian Minister of Defense, during the Minister's January 23-26 visit to the U.S. Minister Sandoval's visit comes at a time of opportunities and risks as Ecuador carries out political and economic reforms through its [...] |
2008-01-16 20:49:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MASS MOPS SNAR PTER EC CO VE |
| 08QUITO533 |
ECUADOR TO OFFER MORE FLEXIBILITY IN PETROLEUM [...] (U) Summary. The GOE has offered to restart contract renegotiations with petroleum companies that it froze in April 2008, with additional flexibilities for firms such as a lower state share of extra revenues and a one-year extension of participation contracts. In exchange, companies would ne [...] |
2008-06-17 14:57:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EPET ENRG EINV EC |
| 08QUITO540 |
A NEW ELECTRICITY REFORM LAW IN THE CONSTITUENT [...] (C) Summary: Ecuador's Constituent Assembly is considering a GOE proposal to reform Ecuador's dysfunctional electricity sector and gain greater control of this "strategic sector," and might pass an electricity mandate soon. The proposal would consolidate public/private generators, distribut [...] |
2008-06-18 20:11:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG EINV ECON EC |
| 08QUITO543 |
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION REVIEWS CLIMATE CHANGE AND [...] (U) Summary: A delegation from the House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology led by Brian Baird (D-WA) visited the Galapagos Islands from June 13-16, 2008. The group met with scientists and officials to learn more about global climate change and invasive species on the Isla [...] |
2008-06-19 22:32:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SENV ECON SOCI EC |
| 08QUITO55 |
ECUADOR'S NEW TAX REFORM LAW [...] (SBU) Summary: Ecuador's Constituent Assembly passed its first law, the Administration's tax reform package, December 28. The Assembly walked back some of the Administration's controversial proposals, eliminating a proposed tax on luxury private schools, and reducing the proposed inheritance [...] |
2008-01-17 13:25:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN PGOV EINV EC |
| 08QUITO553 |
ADMIRAL STAVRIDIS' FIRST VISIT TO QUITO AS [...] (C) Summary: Admiral Stavridis made his first visit as SouthCom Commander to Quito June 9-12. Along with the Ambassador, Military Group Commander and Acting DATT, he met with the Ecuadorian Minister of Defense (MOD) Javier Ponce, the Chief of Defense (CHOD) General Fabian Varela and then joi [...] |
2008-06-20 17:53:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL OVIP MASS MARR EC |
| 08QUITO555 |
ECUADOR ECON WEEKLY: NEW OIL ARBITRATION; CENTRAL BANK GETS [...] (U) The following is a weekly economic update for Ecuador that reports notable developments that are not reported by individual cables. More on GOE Efforts to Review Macroeconomic Data --------------------------------------------- --- 2. (U) The Central Bank of Ecuador (CB) invited three [...] |
2008-06-20 18:55:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV EPET EFIN EC |
| 08QUITO557 |
GOE RESPONDS TO INCREASING INFLATION [...] (SBU) Summary: Inflation has climbed dramatically in Ecuador in the past six months, largely due to natural disasters and international food and petroleum price increases, but also Ecuador's internal market structure. A Finance Ministry official detailed several GOE programs to fight inflation [...] |
2008-06-23 13:50:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN EAGR PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO567 |
ECUADOR: ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT QUITS WITH NO WARNING [...] (SBU) Summary: In a surprise move, Constituent Assembly President Alberto Acosta (Proud and Sovereign Fatherland Movement or PAIS) resigned from that position June 23. Citing his frustration with a process that he feels has become too rushed, Acosta vowed to remain focused on helping the Asse [...] |
2008-06-24 20:39:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO578 |
ECUADOR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE KOSOVO'S INDEPENDENCE [...] (SBU) PolOff met on June 27 with Marisol Nieto, MFA Acting Director General of Multilateral Affairs, during which poloff asked about the GOE's decision regarding Kosovo's independence. 2. (C) Nieto said that the GOE's official position is to not recognize Kosovo's independence. No formal [...] |
2008-06-30 14:25:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | OPDC PREL UNAUS UNMIK EC |
| 08QUITO581 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE: 60 DAY REPORT ON UNSCR [...] (SBU) PolOff delivered reftel points on June 27 to Marisol Nieto, MFA Acting Director General of Multilateral Affairs. 2. (C) Nieto reiterated that the GOE's position on Iran is based on "principles" and that the IAEA should have been given additional time to work with Iran before introdu [...] |
2008-06-30 21:39:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN AORC ETRD TRGY KNNP UNSC EC |
| 08QUITO582 |
ASSEMBLY PICKS UP PACE AS DIVISIONS WITHIN PAIS [...] (SBU) Summary: The new President of the assembly, Fernando Cordero, appears determined to meet the July 26 deadline mandated by the Constituent Assembly statute. From June 24-26 the assembly approved a record 37 articles. Opposition members remain disgruntled because they consider Cordero,s s [...] |
2008-06-30 22:18:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO588 |
ECUADOR ECON WEEKLY: RICE PRICE CONTROLS, UNEMPLOYMENT RATE [...] (U) The following is a weekly economic update for Ecuador that reports notable developments that are not reported by individual cables. Rice Price Controls Supplement an Export Ban -------------------------------------------- 2. (SBU) On May 31, President Correa extended a September 2007 [...] |
2008-07-03 12:53:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV EAGR ELAB PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO601 |
RESPONSE TO USITC REQUEST: ECUADOR 2006-2007 ATPA [...] (U) Following is Post's response to the USITC request for information regarding ATPA related investment activity in Ecuador in 2006 and 2007 (ref a). Effect of the ATPA/ATPDEA on Exports ------------------------------------- 2. (U) Under ATPA, U.S. imports from Ecuador were $5.3 billion i [...] |
2008-07-07 13:26:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD EC |
| 08QUITO610 |
SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL PRODUCTION IN ECUADOR [...] (SBU) Summary: The expansion of oil palm plantations into Ecuador's primary forests is having severe environmental impacts. Esmeraldas province, where a majority of African oil palm is grown, has a deforestation rate of 4.5%, higher than that of any other province or neighboring country. Th [...] |
2008-07-07 22:08:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | SENV EINV ENRG EPET EAGR EAID PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO616 |
GOE SEIZES ISAIAS GROUP PROPERTY [...] (SBU) Summary: GOE financial regulatory authorities seized two major television stations and other properties owned by the Isaias Group on July 8. While some business leaders and members of the political opposition are accusing the government of attempting to suppress freedom of speech, the [...] |
2008-07-08 19:03:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO617 |
FINANCE MINISTER ORTIZ QUITS, REPLACED BY WILMA [...] (U) Summary. Finance Minister Ortiz quit July 7 after refusing to approve the confiscation of assets from the owners of a bank that failed in 1999. President Correa immediately replaced him with Wilma Salgado, an economic professor who had been serving in the Andean Parliament and had been [...] |
2008-07-08 21:09:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO633 |
UPDATE ON SEIZURE OF ISAIAS GROUP PROPERTIES [...] (C) Summary. The Constituent Assembly approved a mandate ratifying the Correa Administration's decision to seize the assets of the Isaias group and blocking any judicial appeal. One former Finance official, who worked on the Filanbank/Isaias case under a previous government, believes that [...] |
2008-07-11 15:13:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EFIN EC |
| 08QUITO672 |
AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL MEETINGS WITH CORREA, OTHER [...] (C) Summary: The Ambassador had farewell meetings with President Correa, VP Moreno, and Government Minister Bustamante; attended a farewell event FM Salvador hosted in her honor; and received a farewell visit from Armed Forces Commander General Varela. She urged the GOE to return to the private sec [...] |
2008-07-21 22:39:00 | Embassy Quito | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV PREL PHUM CVIS SNAR MASS ENRG EINV EC |
| 08QUITO681 |
GOE AND CITY ORIENTE AGREE TO CONTRACT TERMINATION [...] (C) Summary: U.S. oil company City Oriente finally reached agreement with the GOE on terminating its petroleum contract in Ecuador. The firm had been negotiating with the GOE for some time, and on July 22 accepted the GOE's offer of $70 million. City Oriente expects to terminate its contrac [...] |
2008-07-24 22:56:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON EC |
| 08QUITO682 |
ECUADOR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY FINISHING IN OVERDRIVE [...] (C) Summary: In a marathon session ending in the early hours today (July 24), the Constituent Assembly put the final touches on the new draft constitution that we expect will be approved this evening. Eighty percent of the constitutional articles were rushed through in the month of July. Th [...] |
2008-07-25 00:37:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON PHUM EC |
| 08QUITO683 |
NEW REFINERY WITH CHAVEZ A PIE IN THE SKY? [...] (C) Summary: Almost a year after Venezuelan and Ecuadorian state oil companies PDVSA and Petroecuador signed an MOU to jointly build a new refinery on Ecuador's coast, Chavez and Correa met July 15 to finalize agreement on the project. Still no mention has been made of financing for the $6 b [...] |
2008-07-25 12:58:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ECON EINV PREL EC |
| 08QUITO691 |
ECUADOR ECON WEEKLY: ECUADOR-IRAN TRADE OFFICES; [...] (U) The following is a weekly economic update for Ecuador that reports notable developments that are not reported by individual cables. Ecuador-Iran Trade Offices -------------------------- 2. (SBU) Ecuador is planning to open a trade office in Tehran, while Iran is opening one in Quito [...] |
2008-07-29 21:12:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ETRD EAGR ECON EC |
| 08QUITO692 |
ECUADOR: POST-ASSEMBLY TRANSITION RULES [...] (C) Summary: Along with the rushed approval of over half the draft constitution, the final two weeks of the Constituent Assembly was marked by the approval of transitional rules that give the government's Proud and Sovereign Fatherland (PAIS) movement greater control over key institutions. I [...] |
2008-07-30 00:19:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KJUS EC |
| 08QUITO693 |
EMBASSY INTERNS REACH OUT TO AFRO-ECUADORIAN YOUTH [...] As part of the US Mission's public diplomacy outreach to youth and non-traditional audiences, on July 17th a group of six Embassy interns presented the USG-produced paper show illustrating the "Legacy of Martin Luther King" and led related activities at Colegio Roberto Luis Cervantes in the ci [...] |
2008-07-30 20:24:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SCUL |
| 08QUITO694 |
ECUADOR GIVES OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION TO TERMINATE [...] (SBU) The Embassy received a faxed copy of a diplomatic note from the Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 29, 2008, at 6:36pm notifying of the GOE's decision to terminate the Agreement of Cooperation on the Manta Forwarding Operating Location (FOL). Minutes before the MFA sent the [...] |
2008-07-30 21:30:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | MARR MASS MOPS PREL EC |
| 08QUITO696 |
MFA MEETING ON BILATERAL DIALOGUE WITH ECUADOR [...] (SBU) Summary: USG and Ecuadorian officials met July 18 to discuss potential agenda items for a Bilateral Dialogue between Ecuador and the United States. The Dialogue would address issues of interest to both sides, proposing information exchange, cooperation, and technical assistance in area [...] |
2008-07-30 22:22:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD EINV ECON PREL EC |
| 08QUITO70 |
UNASUR STRUCTURE AND CARTAGENA MEETINGS UNCERTAIN [...] (C) Summary. Members of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) are planning meetings of their delegates, foreign ministers and heads of state in Cartegena on January 26-28, but as of January 14 no countries had confirmed attendance. The purpose of these meetings is to approve a draft [...] |
2008-01-22 17:04:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON AORC EC CO BR XM XR |
| 08QUITO723 |
FIRST TAKE ON ECUADOR'S TERMINATION OF MANTA FOL [...] (C) Summary: Acting Foreign Minister Jose Valencia and Under Secretary of Sovereignty Affairs Jaime Barberis met with Charge and PolCouns on July 29 to formally hand over a diplomatic note canceling the Manta FOL agreement (Ref A). The Charge expressed disappointment over the manner in which [...] |
2008-08-06 12:16:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR MASS MOPS EC |
| 08QUITO724 |
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAKTOUM FOUNDATION ENTREPRENEURS [...] This cable is in response to State 77167 asking Post to identify key host country entrepreneurs under the age of 40 in the Arab and Muslim communities of Ecuador for a potential Arab/Muslim Annual Regional Entrepreneurs Conference (AREC). After consultation with a number of sections and agenc [...] |
2008-08-06 13:46:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON PGOV PREL EC |
| 08QUITO731 |
ECUADOR'S LEADING FAMILY BUSINESS GROUPS [...] (U) Summary: This cable identifies Ecuador's leading family business groups, which dominate Ecuador's formal economy and own most of the important companies in the non-petroleum sector. End summary. Overview and observations ------------------------- 2. (SBU) This cable is a snap sho [...] |
2008-08-08 16:09:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV EFIN EIND EAGR PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO732 |
CORREA CLASHES WITH CHURCH ON CONSTITUTION [...] (C) Summary: Ecuador's conservative Catholic Church leadership has emerged as a key opponent of the draft constitution. The Church's Episcopal Conference was quick to voice its disapproval of the articles concerning the right to life, the definition of a family, and freedom of education. It [...] |
2008-08-08 19:52:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO75 |
ECUADOR: CORREA'S TAKE ON TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY [...] (C) Summary. While Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa espouses many principles of "21st Century Socialism" and occasionally uses the term, he has thus far been moderate in attempting to translate the ideas into concrete reality. Correa has pursued certain socialist ideas in the areas of Lati [...] |
2008-01-23 10:35:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON PREL EC |
| 08QUITO754 |
Ecuador Buys in (Literally) to USAID Northern Border [...] (U) Summary: Security Minister Larrea confirmed that the GOE will match USAID funding for USAID's Northern Border Municipal Program. Larrea pledged $6 million dollars for Plan Ecuador to match USAID's investment, and will work through USAID's contractor, the International Organization for Mi [...] |
2008-08-15 18:58:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID ECON PREL PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO759 |
ECUADOR: NEUTRALITY OF ELECTORAL ARBITER IN [...] (C) Summary: The last minute replacement of opposition representatives of the regional and national electoral tribunals with representatives of the President,s party has called into question the neutrality of the electoral overseers. The legality of the move is hotly debated in Ecuador, as i [...] |
2008-08-18 21:28:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO764 |
GOE NEGOTIATING OIL CONTRACTS - AGAIN: FIRMS AGREE [...] (U) Summary: President Correa held high level talks with the leaders of international oil companies to restart oil contract negotiations after he had suspended them in April. Chinese, Spanish, and Brazilian oil companies have agreed on the framework for new production contracts and to a tran [...] |
2008-08-19 22:16:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ECON EC |
| 08QUITO768 |
"WE HAD AN AGREEMENT" -- ECUADOR FRUSTRATED EU [...] (SBU) Summary. Ecuador and other Latin American banana producers had reached an agreement with the European Union which would have reduced EU tariffs on Latin bananas. However, the EU withdrew the offer after WTO Doha Round negotiations reached an impasse, even though the Latins believed tha [...] |
2008-08-21 15:20:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECON EC |
| 08QUITO773 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE: UNGA ATTENDANCE [...] (SBU) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to MFA Director General of Multilateral Affairs Lourdes Puma on August 6, and followed up with Puma on August 18. Puma confirmed that President Correa would not attend, and that Foreign Minister Maria Isabel Salvador would represent Ecuador at the UNGA. [...] |
2008-08-22 12:51:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL OTRA OVIP KSEP UNGA EC |
| 08QUITO774 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE: CUBA AND EU'S HUMAN [...] (SBU) Poloff delivered points from reftels to MFA Director General of Human Rights Augusto Saa on July 30 and with Director General of Multilateral Affairs Lourdes Puma on August 6. 2. (C) Saa was brief in his response, saying that Ecuador maintains a policy of non-interventionism in the [...] |
2008-08-22 12:51:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREL EUN EC CU |
| 08QUITO775 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE: KOSOVO RECOGNITION [...] (SBU) Poloff delivered points (Refs A and B) to Director General of Multilateral Affairs Lourdes Puma on August 8. Puma said that the GOE had not changed its policy (Refs C and D) that it will not publicly declare a position either for or against Kosovo's independence. However, she added that [...] |
2008-08-22 12:51:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV KPAO KPKO UNMIK KV SR EC |
| 08QUITO776 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE: INDIA-IAEA SAFEGUARDS [...] (SBU) Poloff delivered reftel points on July 14 to the MFA's Directorate General of Multilateral Affairs and followed up with Director General of Multilateral Affairs Lourdes Puma on August 8. Puma said that the GOE was pleased that the India IAEA Safeguards Agreement had been approved, that [...] |
2008-08-22 12:51:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PARM PREL ETTC EC |
| 08QUITO777 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE: IRAN AND THE NAM [...] (SBU) Poloff delivered Ref A points on July 14 to the MFA's Directorate General of Multilateral Affairs and followed up with Director General of Multilateral Affairs Lourdes Puma on August 8. 2. (C) Puma said that the GOE supported the passage of the Statement on Iran's Nuclear Issue adop [...] |
2008-08-22 12:51:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP MNUC PARM TRGY IAEA PERL UR EC |
| 08QUITO778 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE: PSI [...] (SBU) Poloff delivered Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) workshop summary (Ref A) and copy of letter (Ref B) to MFA Director General of Multilateral Affairs Lourdes Puma on August 6. Puma had been unaware of the workshop. She expressed gratitude to the USG for organizing it, and asked [...] |
2008-08-22 12:54:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | MNUC PARM PREL KNNP EC |
| 08QUITO783 |
ECUADOR AND COLOMBIA AT LEAST BACK TO TALKING [...] (C) Summary: After putting their dialogue in the deep freeze earlier this summer, Ecuador-Colombia relations are now thawing a bit as ministerial level contact resumed with an August 15 meeting between the two foreign ministers on the margins of the presidential inauguration in Paraguay. The [...] |
2008-08-22 22:00:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AORC MOPS EC CO |
| 08QUITO784 |
DUKE ENERGY WINS ARBITRATION WITH GOE; ECUADOR [...] (C) Summary: An ICSID arbitration panel largely ruled in favor of U.S. electricity company Duke Energy in its case against Ecuador, and ordered an award of roughly $12 million. However, the GOE portrayed the decision to the media as a partial victory by emphasizing that the award was for $5 [...] |
2008-08-25 18:34:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EINV ENRG ECON EC |
| 08QUITO787 |
ECUADOR ON CAN-EU TALKS AND ITS NEIGHBORS' FTAS [...] (C) Summary. Ecuador supported an Andean Community (CAN) waiver so that Peru could implement its free trade agreement with the U.S. after President Correa determined that Ecuador would not impede its neighbors' FTAs. Ecuador is frustrated with Bolivia's intransigence in the CAN, both its opp [...] |
2008-08-25 21:41:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD KIPR ECON PREL PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO790 |
ECUADORIAN COMMENTS ON 2009 SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS DRAFT [...] (SBU) Emboffs met with Emilio Izquierdo, Under Secretary for Multilateral Affairs at the Foreign Ministry, to seek an Ecuadorian reaction to the draft Summit of the Americas declaration, per reftel. Izquierdo said the Government of Ecuador is still reviewing the draft declaration, but said th [...] |
2008-08-26 19:29:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KSUM ECON EFIN ENRG PREL PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO791 |
ECUADOR RESPONSE TO DESIGNATED IRANIAN ENTITIES [...] (SBU) On August 25, Embassy Quito received notification from the Banco del Austro in Cuenca, Ecuador, that they have a closed account in their systems in the name of PCI CORP, S.A. (per reftel, possible AKA for Parchin Chemical Industries). While the account is closed, we have forwarded the [...] |
2008-08-26 21:56:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON KNNP EFIN PARM IR EC |
| 08QUITO811 |
AMBASSADOR,S MEETING WITH COORDINATING MINISTER OF [...] (SBU) Summary: The Ambassador had a one hour courtesy call with Coordinating Minister for Production, Susana Cabeza de Vaca, on August 26, 2008. In their wide-ranging discussion, Cabeza de Vaca shared with the Ambassador her programmatic priorities, challenges, and interesting insights into [...] |
2008-09-03 15:27:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV EAID PREL SENV EC |
| 08QUITO815 |
Ecuador Lowers Interest Rate Ceilings [...] (SBU) Summary. Empowered by a slightly modified year-old banking l 2. (U) EcuadorQs banking law entered into force in July 2007, establis 3. (SBU) In December, the Constitutional Court declared the methodolog 4. (U) Following are the maximum interest rates for different market [...] |
2008-09-03 21:40:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN ECON PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO830 |
ECUADOR'S TARGETED CASH TRANSFER AND HOUSING SUBSIDY [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. The GOE has two targeted subsidy programs, direct cash transfers and a housing bond, that aim to improve food security, assist in human capital development through child education, and provide financing for housing to low and middle-income families. The Correa Administration d [...] |
2008-09-05 16:26:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EAID EFIN PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO831 |
Ecuador Lowers Interest Rate Ceilings [...] (SBU) Summary. Empowered by a slightly modified year-old banking law, the Central Bank has steadily lowered maximum allowable interest rates for the banking sector since January 2008. Ironically, the Constitutional Court struck down a provision of the 2007 banking law that provided transparen [...] |
2008-09-05 16:27:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN ECON PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO833 |
REFERENDUM ELECTORAL RULES LEAD TO UNEVEN PLAYING [...] (C) Summary: The spending rules for the upcoming referendum are strict, prohibiting the use of public funds and resources for political campaigns. They establish spending ceilings per political organization and require transparency of campaign funds. The rules appear to be unenforceable, ho [...] |
2008-09-05 22:49:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO834 |
AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH MINISTER OF GOVERNMENT [...] (C) Summary: In her first official meeting with Minister of Government and Police Fernando Bustamante on September 2, the Ambassador stressed the concerns and risks posed by Ecuador's visa free policy, and asked the Minister's assistance in ensuring that the counternarcotics letter of agreem [...] |
2008-09-08 13:33:00 | Embassy Quito | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV PREL PHUM CVIS SNAR EC |
| 08QUITO836 |
COORDINATING MINISTER FOR ECONOMIC POLICY PAEZ [...] (C) Summary. In his September 2 meeting with the Ambassador, Coordinating Minister for Economic Policy Pedro Paez suggested areas to enhance U.S.-Ecuador economic cooperation and asserted that he is a believer in the market and the private sector. Reflecting his leftist orientation, he adde [...] |
2008-09-08 20:47:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN EAID PREL EC |
| 08QUITO85 |
ECUADOR ECON WEEKLY: 2007 Economic Performance; [...] (U) The following is a weekly economic update for Ecuador that reports notable developments that are not reported by individual cables. Ecuador's 2007 Economic Performance ----------------------------------- 2. (SBU) According to data from Ecuador's Central Bank Ecuador (BCE), GDP grew [...] |
2008-01-29 14:51:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EPET EINV EC |
| 08QUITO851 |
SENATOR BOND AND ACTING FM VALENCIA ON COLOMBIA, [...] (S/NF) Summary: In a meeting with Ecuador,s acting Foreign Minister, Senator Bond (R-MO) urged that a mechanism be found to continue counternarcotics flights by USG civilian agencies after the U.S. Forward Operating Location in Manta closes in 2009. He stressed the USG interest in military, [...] |
2008-09-10 15:15:00 | Embassy Quito | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL SNAR PTER MARR PINR ETRD ECON ENRG EC |
| 08QUITO877 |
FOLLOW-UP ON ECUADOR'S ATTENDANCE AT UNGA [...] (SBU) PolOff met with MFA Multilateral Affairs Director General Lourdes Puma on September 5 to confirm which GOE officials would attend UNGA (Ref A). Puma said that President Rafael Correa would not be traveling to the U.S., that he was staying in Ecuador due to events leading up to Ecuador' [...] |
2008-09-11 20:09:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL OTRA OVIP KSEP UNGA EC |
| 08QUITO878 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE - UNGA HUMAN RIGHTS [...] (C) PolOff delivered reftel points to MFA Multilateral Affairs Director General Lourdes Puma on September 5. Puma reiterated the GOE's non-interventionist mantra, saying that the GOE's position on human rights issues was that they should be handled exclusively by the UN Human Rights Council, [...] |
2008-09-11 20:17:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL UNGA EC |
| 08QUITO879 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE - KOSOVO ICG RESOLUTION [...] (SBU) PolOff delivered Ref A points to MFA Multilateral Affairs Director General Lourdes Puma on September 5, emphasizing that Kosovo independence is a political issue, not a legal question, and therefore should be decided by political institutions, not by the courts. 2. (C) Puma quickly a [...] |
2008-09-11 20:21:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL UNGA UN KV EC |
| 08QUITO880 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE ON RUSSIA-GEORGIA [...] (C) PolOff delivered points from reftels to MFA Multilateral Affairs Director General Lourdes Puma on September 5. Puma reiterated her regular mantra that the GOE was particularly sensitive to issues of sovereignty. She noted that the GOE would not make a public commitment for or against Ru [...] |
2008-09-11 20:25:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MARR KPKO GG RU EC |
| 08QUITO883 |
American Business Committee Sees Both Good and Bad under [...] (SBU) Summary. Representatives of the U.S. business community in Ecuador provided the Ambassador an overview of the business climate in Ecuador. They reported a mixed picture, with some highlighting the difficult investment climate created by the uncertain direction of economic policy, while [...] |
2008-09-18 14:03:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD EINV ELAB PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO892 |
ECUADOR RESPONSE: SECRETARY'S WOMEN LEADERS' [...] (SBU) PolOff delivered the Secretary's invitation (Ref B) to MFA Multilateral Affairs Director General Lourdes Puma on September 5. Puma said that Foreign Minister Maria Isabel Salvador is planning to travel to UNGA on September 21 and to return to Quito on September 24, due to events leading [...] |
2008-09-19 20:07:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PHUM KWMN UNGA EC |
| 08QUITO896 |
CORREA APPOINTS HIS FOURTH FINANCE MINISTER [...] (C) Summary. President Correa fired Finance Minister Wilma Salgado on September 15 and replaced her with Vice Minister Maria Elsa Viteri. Viteri, who is a former classmate of Correa, may be a more capable administrator of the budget process than Salgado and will likely try to avoid controve [...] |
2008-09-22 12:24:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO897 |
PRICE CONTROLS AS A MEASURE TO STOP FOOD INFLATION [...] (SBU) Summary: The Correa administration imposed mandatory price controls on nine products on August 28, although it said that all the controls are based on agreements with producers. The GOE continues to intervene in the market to limit food price inflation, but has shown some flexibility i [...] |
2008-09-22 13:12:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD EAGR EC |
| 08QUITO90 |
ECUADOR: CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY FOCUS UNCLEAR [...] (SBU) Summary: As the Constituent Assembly reaches the two-month mark, members are meeting with various interest groups and holding private committee meetings, but have yet to debate publicly any constitutional language. The Assembly has approved six laws or other documents, including the controver [...] |
2008-01-30 20:27:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EFIN SNAR KCOR EC |
| 08QUITO906 |
AMBASSADOR'S FIRST MEETING WITH DEFENSE MINISTER [...] (C) Summary: The Ambassador paid a courtesy call on Minister of Defense (MOD) Javier Ponce on September 17. The discussion was cordial and frank, and Ponce seemed interested in maintaining a positive working relationship. However, Minister Ponce expressed a desire to ensure that bilateral [...] |
2008-09-23 12:25:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR MASS MOPS EC |
| 08QUITO913 |
RIGHTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN ECUADOR'S NEW [...] (U) Summary: Ecuador's proposed constitution contains possibly significant changes in the area of environment, generally centralizing management while expanding the basis for conservation and enforcement. Nature, or "Pachamama" (a Quechua-Spanish hybrid word for "earth mother"), is given ex [...] |
2008-09-23 18:47:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SENV ECON SOCI PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO920 |
AMBASSADOR HODGES' FIRST TRIP IN ECUADOR HIGHLIGHTS BREADTH [...] (U) Summary: On September 3-4, the Ambassador traveled to the provinces of Tungurahua and Cotopaxi in central Ecuador. Ambassador Hodges delivered her first speech in Ambato, the largest city in Ecuador's central Sierra, and used several other events to showcase the range of USG economic supp [...] |
2008-09-25 15:37:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD EC |
| 08QUITO921 |
CAMPAIGN FOR YES VOTE ON CONSTITUTION COMPELLING [...] (C) Summary: Those planning to vote "yes" in the Sunday referendum, led by President Correa and his Proud and Sovereign Fatherland (PAIS) movement, encompass many social organizations, leftist political parties, and other Ecuadorians that believe the new constitution will promote justice, equ [...] |
2008-09-25 18:38:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO924 |
ECUADOR'S TEXTILE SECTOR: SURPRISING SIGNS OF STRENGTH [...] (U) Summary: Ecuador's textile sector has had to deal with the bankruptcy of a large exporter and stagnant investment due to uncertainty over Ecuador's political climate, the renewal of ATPA, and the potential impact of the U.S.-Columbia free trade agreement (FTA). However, exports of some pr [...] |
2008-09-25 22:14:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD EINV ECON KTEX EC |
| 08QUITO934 |
AMBASSSADOR MEETS QUITO MAYOR MONCAYO [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. In a September 11 courtesy call Quito Mayor Paco Moncayo avoided controversial political issues and focused on a review of ongoing municipal projects. End summary. 2. (SBU) Mayor Moncayo warmly welcomed the Ambassador and commented on his good relations with the Embassy ov [...] |
2008-09-29 20:20:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO935 |
AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH AGRICULTURE MINISTER POVEDA [...] (U) Summary: The Ambassador paid a courtesy call on Agriculture Minister Walter Poveda on September 15. Also in the meeting were Agriculture Vice Minister Cevallos, Embassy DCM, and Agricultural Attache Gonzalez. Poveda emphasized the need for international cooperation and sought renewal of [...] |
2008-09-29 20:20:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAGR ECON ETRD EC |
| 08QUITO942 |
ECUADOR: STRONG MAJORITY APPROVES NEW CONSTITUTION [...] (C) Summary: Preliminary results show that almost 64% of Ecuadorians voted in favor of the new constitution in the September 28 referendum, a solid win for President Correa. Although there was criticism of fairness of the campaign (Ref A), the voting process was largely peaceful and free of fr [...] |
2008-09-30 00:03:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 08QUITO943 |
AMBASSSADOR MEETS QUITO MAYOR MONCAYO [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. In a September 11 courtesy call Quito Mayor Paco Moncayo avoided controversial political issues and focused on a review of ongoing municipal projects. End summary. 2. (SBU) Mayor Moncayo warmly welcomed the Ambassador and commented on his good relations with the Embassy ov [...] |
2008-09-30 14:04:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON PGOV EC |
| 08QUITO956 |
ECUADOR HOSTING ANDEAN PRESIDENTIAL MEETING; URIBE [...] (C) Summary. Ecuador will host a meeting of Andean Community presidents on October 14 to try to forge a common Andean position on negotiating a free trade agreement with the European Union (EU). However, if Bolivia blocks consensus (which Ecuador expects), Ecuador will join Colombia and Per [...] |
2008-10-02 22:10:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD PREL EC CO |
| 08QUITO961 |
AMBASSADOR,S MEETING WITH PETROLEUM AND MINES [...] (SBU) Summary: The Ambassador paid a courtesy call on Minister of Petroleum and Mines Galo Chiriboga on September 18. Chiriboga emphasized ongoing cooperation between Ecuador and the U.S. in the energy sector, and highlighted the importance of private investment. He mentioned that the GOE [...] |
2008-10-03 18:00:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON EC |
| 08QUITO963 |
AMBASSADOR PRESENTS CREDENTIALS TO PRESIDENT CORREA [...] (SBU) In a ceremony that went off script and dropped protocol several times, the Ambassador presented credentials to President Correa on October 2. Correa seemed genuinely welcoming as he received her with smiles and a hug followed by repeated apologies for not having received her earlier. Co [...] |
2008-10-03 20:44:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SNAR MASS ECIN EC |
| 08QUITO966 |
MACHALA POWER MAY BE CLOSE TO AGREEMENT WITH GOE [...] (C) Summary: The GOE has agreed with U.S.-owned electricity generator and natural gas producer Machala Power/EDC that it owes Machala Power $59.8 million in unpaid electricity tariffs. The GOE has asked Machala Power to drop its international arbitration case upon payment. However, a number [...] |
2008-10-06 20:09:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EINV ENRG ECON EC |
| 08QUITO973 |
BLUE LANTERN RESPONSE - LICENSES 050117804, [...] (SBU) Post confirms completion of a pre-license check on licenses 050117804, 050117818, 050117829 and 050117848 for the export of automatic weapons and grenade launchers to Ecuador. Post also confirms that the end-user, Armada del Ecuador, has legitimately ordered the defense articles listed [...] |
2008-10-07 23:25:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KOMC ETTC EC |
| 08QUITO983 |
CANADIAN-US IVANHOE ENERGY SIGNS OIL CONTRACT WITH [...] (U) Summary: Following 11 months of negotiations, on October 8 Ivanhoe Energy signed a contract with the GOE to develop a field of super-heavy oil using its proprietary technology. In a ceremony where he also announced replacement of the Energy Minister (septel), President Correa hailed the [...] |
2008-10-14 20:16:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON EC |
| 08QUITO984 |
ECONOMIC PROVISIONS IN THE NEW CONSTITUTION [...] (C) Summary. The economic provisions of the new constitution allow for significant state control over the economy. However, they do not necessarily signal a new economic policy direction for the Correa Administration, as a number of provisions have parallels in the 1998 constitution, and in [...] |
2008-10-14 20:24:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV ETRD EPET EMIN EFIN PREL EC |
| 08QUITO986 |
CIVAIR ECUADOR UPDATE: TRAVEL AGENT FEES AND AIRPORT FEES [...] (SBU) Summary. Per reftel A demarche, Emboffs urged U/S of Aviation Guillermo Bernal not to set minimum travel agent fees, but Bernal favors regulation to protect small travel agents. On a separate aviation matter, foreign carriers reached agreement with the Quito airport concessionaire on a [...] |
2008-10-15 13:31:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAIR ECON EC |
| 08QUITO99 |
ECUADOR: 2007 TRENDS IN COUNTER-NARCOTICS [...] (SBU) Summary. Under the Correa administration, the GOE has taken a tougher stance on combating narcotrafficking by implementing new policies and programs and by increasing its police and military operations. Ecuador's border regions, especially in the North, remain vulnerable to the transit [...] |
2008-01-31 21:42:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | SNAR PTER PREL MOPS EC |
| 08QUITO995 |
ECUADOR'S CUT FLOWER INDUSTRY FACES CHALLENGES [...] (U) Summary: Ecuador's flower sector has boomed with ATPA benefits and has recently been targeted by the GOE as a "productive sector" warranting increased government support. However, climate issues, increased labor and production costs, foreign competition, and uncertainty over ATPA renewal [...] |
2008-10-17 22:11:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD EAGR EC |
| 08QUITO996 |
ODEBRECHT AND PETROBRAS - ECUADOR MOVES AGAINST [...] (C) Summary: President Correa raised the rhetoric level against two big Brazilian companies, and went further with the construction firm Odebrecht, cancelling its projects in Ecuador and its employees' visas. Correa also pressed Petrobras to quickly renegotiate its contract or face expulsio [...] |
2008-10-21 16:11:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG PREL EINV ECON EC BR |
| 09QUITO1 |
ANOTHER U.S. ARBITRATION RESOLVED: GOE PAYS DUKE [...] (SBU) Summary: The GOE paid U.S. firm Duke Energy $10.7 million in settlement of an ICSID arbitral award December 16, resolving the company's long standing dispute over improper fines levied against its Ecuadorian subsidiary by the state electricity company. Duke Energy is evaluating whether [...] |
2009-01-05 21:00:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EINV ENRG ECON EC |
| 09QUITO100 |
CORREA ANGRY OVER CONDITIONS ON VETTED UNIT [...] (C) Summary: During his February 7 weekly radio/TV address, an indignant President Correa, reading from a January 8 letter from the DHS/ICE Attache in Quito, rejected coordinated selection of personnel for an anti-smuggling/contraband unit and announced the Attache's expulsion, apparently un [...] |
2009-02-09 21:33:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR SMIG SNAR EC CO |
| 09QUITO1005 |
PRM DAS Robinson Visit to Quito and Ecuador's Northern [...] (C) SUMMARY. Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) DAS David Robinson visited Ecuador on November 5-6 to discuss refugee programs and conditions. During meetings with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Government and Police, and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, R [...] |
2009-11-30 18:00:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PHUM PREF PGOV PTER KCRM SMIG SNAR SOCI EC CO |
| 09QUITO1009 |
UNASUR Establishes Confidence Building Mechanism [...] (C) SUMMARY: The November 27 UNASUR meeting of foreign and defense ministers managed to reach agreement on a resolution establishing a "confidence building mechanism," with provisions designed to improve transparency and information sharing, provide guarantees regarding the use and/or threat [...] |
2009-12-01 22:43:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR AORC EC CO XM XR |
| 09QUITO1011 |
Delivery of Letters on U.S.-Colombia DCA [...] (SBU) The Embassy delivered Ref B letters under cover of a diplomatic note to the Foreign Minister's office, as well as the MFA's Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) Coordination Office and Directorate General of North America, by e-mail on November 25, and delivered the original on the m [...] |
2009-12-02 14:23:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR KTIA AORC US CO EC |
| 09QUITO1012 |
Request for Source/Origin Waiver: Procurement of Four [...] Issue: Post requests a source origin waiver from geographic code 000 (United States only) to geographic code 935 (Special Free World) to permit the procurement of vehicles in the Host Country local market for operational use by the Ecuadorian National Police's Sensitive Investigative Uni [...] |
2009-10-16 18:58:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR AMGT KCRM |
| 09QUITO1015 |
Ecuador's Position Towards the upcoming Copenhagen Climate [...] (SBU) Summary: The Ecuadorian Government will continue to support G-77 positions related to climate change at the upcoming COP-15 in Copenhagen. According to Ambassador Federico Meneses, Director General for the Environment at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ecuador has placed adaptation [...] |
2009-12-02 21:51:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SENV KGHG ENRG ECON EC |
| 09QUITO1017 |
President's Announcement on Afghanistan and Pakistan [...] (SBU) The Ambassador delivered reftel points to Minister of Defense Javier Ponce on December 1. Ponce expressed interest and asked to be updated as more information became available. The Embassy also delivered reftel points on December 1 to the MFA's Directorate General of North America and [...] |
2009-12-02 22:06:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL AF PK EC |
| 09QUITO1023 |
ECUADOR ON DEFAMATION OF RELIGIONS DEMARCHE [...] (C) PolOff delivered Ref A points on December 2 to the MFA's Acting Director General for Multilateral Affairs, Leon Avila. Avila said he would not be able to respond substantively until he spoke with Director General Lourdes Puma, who was out of the country until December 6, and who had already [...] |
2009-12-03 22:47:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNGA PHUM EC |
| 09QUITO1026 |
ECUADOR ECONOMIC NEWS: ECONOMY CONTRACTS, BALANCE OF [...] (U) The following is a periodic economic update for Ecuador that reports notable developments that are not reported by individual cables. This document is sensitive but unclassified. It should not be disseminated outside of USG channels and should not be posted on the internet. ------- [...] |
2009-10-20 19:37:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD EINV EFIN EC |
| 09QUITO103 |
BACKGROUND TO CORREA'S ATTACKS ON U.S. COOPERATION [...] (S/NF) SUMMARY: A PAIS provincial leader and former Under Secretary of Government under Minister Gustavo Larrea, Ignacio Chauvin, turned himself in February 4 to face charges of narco-trafficking. Calling himself a revolutionary, Chauvin admitted to meeting deceased FARC member Raul Reyes. [...] |
2009-02-10 23:25:00 | Embassy Quito | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL MARR SMIG SNAR MOPS EC CO |
| 09QUITO1033 |
Government Commission Report on Colombian Attack and FARC [...] (C) Summary: A government-appointed commission's report revives allegations about the FOL's support (specifically in regard to satellite intelligence) for the 2008 Colombian military attack against a FARC camp in northern Ecuador, as well as allegations of inappropriate U.S. direction of loca [...] |
2009-12-11 18:45:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER SNAR MOPS EC CO |
| 09QUITO1035 |
GOE REQUEST FOR DEMINING ASSISTANCE PRESENTS UNIQUE [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Ecuadorian government seeks USG assistance in its humanitarian demining program. After years of inconclusive discussion with the GOE, the MFA's recent requests for USG assistance, combined with extension of the GOE's commitment to the Ottawa Convention, increasingly close pol [...] |
2009-12-15 21:20:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MASS PGOV MCAP KHDP EC PE |
| 09QUITO1045 |
Government Commission Report on Colombia Raises Criticism [...] (C) SUMMARY: A government-appointed commission on the 2008 Colombian military attack against a FARC camp in northern Ecuador admitted that its report was not exhaustive, but defended it against charges that it provided nothing new and lacked proof for its conclusions. The GOE has stressed th [...] |
2009-12-18 20:18:00 | Embassy Quito | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PGOV PTER SNAR MOPS EC CO |
| 09QUITO1049 |
Ecuadorian Navy Proposes Info-Sharing Agreement [...] (C) Summary: Navy Commander Admiral Molestina approached the Embassy on September 1 to propose formalizing information sharing between the Ecuadorian Navy and USG. While Molestina's motivation for signing such an agreement may include protecting his own position and his personnel, other cont [...] |
2009-12-21 20:12:00 | Embassy Quito | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL MARR PINR SNAR MASS MOPS EC |
| 09QUITO1053 |
Ecuador Gradually Solidifies Relationship with Iran's Export [...] (C) The Export Development Bank of Iran (EDBI) continues to make inroads in Ecuador, according to press reports, although it appears to face resistance at mid-levels in the Ecuadoran government and Central Bank - and even more so in the private sector. In delivering Ref A demarche on EDBI, and [...] |
2009-12-22 19:22:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON EFIN EC IR PREL MNUC PARM KNNP |
| 09QUITO1057 |
Power Blackouts Continue in Ecuador [...] (SBU) Having failed to end energy blackouts by Ecuadorian President Correa's arbitrary deadline of December 15, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Resources Esteban Albornoz resigned December 16 and was replaced by Miguel Calahorrano. In the face of continuing energy shortages, President Cor [...] |
2009-12-23 22:12:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EINV EPET ENRG ECON EC |
| 09QUITO1059 |
Ecuador's 2010 Budget: Optimistic Assumptions, large [...] (SBU) Marked by optimistic growth and revenue assumptions, a record-level fiscal deficit, and a conspicuous lack of detail about sources of financing, Ecuador's 2010 budget passed the National Assembly December 22. President Correa's administration submitted the 2009 and 2010 budgets simultaneo [...] |
2009-12-23 23:05:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON ETRD EINV EC |
| 09QUITO1061 |
Progress on Finalizing Agreement on the New Quito Airport [...] (SBU) Summary: Although numerous hurdles remain, negotiations between Quiport, the private consortium building the new Quito International Airport, the project lenders (including OPIC and Ex-Im), and the Mayor of Quito led to a release of funds on December 7 for continued construction of [...] |
2009-12-24 15:46:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | EAIR EFIN ECON PREL IDB EXIM OPIC EC |
| 09QUITO1068 |
ECUADOR ECONOMIC NEWS [...] (U) The following is a periodic economic update for Ecuador that reports notable developments that are not reported by individual cables. This document is sensitive but unclassified. It should not be disseminated outside of USG channels and should not be posted on the internet. ------- [...] |
2009-10-29 14:15:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD EINV EFIN EC |
| 09QUITO108 |
COMMERCIAL MEDIA IN ECUADOR WORRIED ABOUT THE PRESIDENT AND [...] No summary [...] |
2009-02-11 20:33:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV KPAO EC |
| 09QUITO1080 |
NOBLE ENERGY FEARS DISPUTE WITH GOE [...] (SBU) Summary. Noble Energy, the last U.S. company operating in the oil and gas sector in Ecuador, fears the GoE may soon initiate a process to terminate the contract of one of its subsidiaries, claiming breach of contract. Noble has 100% ownership of a fully-integrated gas-to-power proje [...] |
2009-10-30 18:55:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV EPET ENRG ECON EC |
| 09QUITO1098 |
ECUADOR'S RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ABOUT ITS [...] SUMMARY: Ecuador intends to use the entire amount of its sugar tariff rate quota (TRQ) for fiscal year (FY) 2010, and is able to supply additional sugar if needed. END SUMMARY. 2. On September 25, 2009, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the FY 2010 TRQ for sugar (re [...] |
2009-11-10 21:43:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR ETRD EC |
| 09QUITO1100 |
NO GOE REPRESENTATIVE TO ATTEND IICA MEETING [...] In response to reftel demarche request, Post contacted AGROCALIDAD, the Ecuadorian agency in charge of sanitary and phytosanitary matters, to discuss the upcoming Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture meeting in Santiago, Chile on the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. In [...] |
2009-11-10 22:36:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR SENV ETRD EC |
| 09QUITO1108 |
QUARTERS LEASE FOR POLICE [...] (SBU) NAS requests authorization to sign a two-year lease for administrative facilities for a specialized police intelligence unit of the Ecuadorian National Police that cooperates with DHS/ICE. The police unit conducts operations against money laundering, trafficking in persons, human smuggli [...] |
2009-11-13 21:09:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR |
| 09QUITO1110 |
GOE STRUGGLING IN FACE OF ENERGY CRISIS [...] (SBU) Summary. Shrinking reservoirs caused by a delay in the start of seasonal rains have reduced output of Ecuador's hydroelectric plants, causing a severe electrical power shortage and prompting the government to ration electricity usage throughout the country. The government is negotiat [...] |
2009-11-13 21:09:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG ECON EINV EC |
| 09QUITO112 |
GOE REMAINS ON ATTACK AGAINST EMBASSY [...] (C) Summary: Both President Correa and Minister Carvajal condemned the Embassy's actions with regard to vetted units publicly throughout the week of February 9. The Department's February 9 statement that the USG would work through diplomatic channels to address Correa's concerns and Carvaj [...] |
2009-02-13 22:54:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SNAR PTER KCRM EC |
| 09QUITO1148 |
ATPDEA Still Key to Many Ecuadorian Industries and Jobs [...] (U) Ecuador has benefitted substantially from the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA) program since its inception in 1991. ATPA currently provides duty-free access to the U.S. market for approximately 5,600 Ecuadorian products. According to GoE estimates, approximately 350,000 jobs are tied [...] |
2009-11-30 14:04:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD PREL EC AGR FAS EPET EMIN |
| 09QUITO117 |
ANALYSTS OFFER DIVERGENT VIEWS ON POLITICAL SCENE [...] (C) SUMMARY: The diversity of the Ecuadorian political debate was on display during a breakfast with WHA/AND Director Whitaker. Some analysts saw President Correa staking out the electoral center amidst waning voter interest, while another participant highlighted what he considered successfu [...] |
2009-02-17 16:35:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ENRG EC CO IR |
| 09QUITO120 |
LEGISLATIVE HEAD CORDERO OPEN TO U.S. COOPERATION [...] (C) Summary: In... id: 192653 date: 2/18/2009 17:11 refid: 09QUITO120 origin: Embassy Quito classification: CONFIDENTIAL destination: header: VZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHQT #0120/01 0491711 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 181711Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY QUITO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0037 INFO RUEH [...] |
2009-02-18 17:11:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC |
| 09QUITO1202 |
FLACSO: ONE ACADEMIC INSTITUTION'S IDEAS AND PEOPLE PERMEATE [...] (SBU) Summary: Meeting new government officials, or reading the bios of long-standing ones, we are struck by how many of them come out of one small university, namely FLACSO Ecuador. Many of these individuals have more experience developing academic theories than real world policy. This situ [...] |
2009-12-18 18:47:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV EC |
| 09QUITO1204 |
REQUEST FOR SOURCE/ORIGIN WAIVER: PROCUREMENT OF VEHICLES [...] Issue: Post requests a source origin waiver from geographic code 000 (United States only) to geographic code 935 (Special Free World) to permit the procurement of vehicles in the Host Country local market for operational use by the Ecuadorian National Police Antinarcotics Units (DNA). [...] |
2009-12-18 19:11:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR AMGT KCRM |
| 09QUITO1206 |
Letter from Ecuador's President Correa Regarding the U.S. - [...] The Embassy received under cover of a diplomatic note a letter from President Rafael Correa, responding to the Secretary's letter dated November 25, 2009, regarding the U.S. - Colombia Defense Cooperation Agreement. The text of the letter follows, and the original will be sent by pouch to WHA/ [...] |
2009-12-18 19:19:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL EC |
| 09QUITO121 |
A Somber U.S. Business Forum Briefs the Ambassador [...] (C) Summary. On February 13, U.S. companies briefed the Ambassador on the business climate in Ecuador. The tone was somber, as the representative outlined challenges and risks, but also opportunities for their companies, which are representative of many business sectors in Ecuador. Most wer [...] |
2009-02-18 20:41:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD EINV EFIN EPET ECON EC |
| 09QUITO1218 |
ECUADOR: 2009 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM [...] (U) Embassy submits the narrative in paragraphs 2-9 for the 2009 Country Report on Terrorism: 2. (U) Ecuador's greatest counterterrorism and security challenge remained the presence of Colombian narcotics, criminal and terrorist groups in the northern border region. In order to evade Colom [...] |
2009-12-21 21:54:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER ASEC EFIN PINS PREL AEMR KCRM KHLS EC |
| 09QUITO122 |
GOE DECLARES EMBASSY OFFICER PERSONA NON GRATA [...] (SBU) The Embassy received two diplomatic notes on February 18 related to Embassy officer Mark Sullivan's expulsion. The first, dated February 16 and delivered in hard copy on the morning of February 18, requests that Sullivan depart the country this week. The second, dated February 18 and [...] |
2009-02-18 20:42:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EC |
| 09QUITO126 |
MFA CONVERSATIONS WITH AMBASSADOR ON PNG DECISION [...] (C) Summary: The Ambassador, in February 18 conversations with FM Falconi and Vice Minister Pozo, stressed the harm the expulsion of an Embassy officer would do to our relationship and her regret that she had not had an opportunity to try to address GOE concerns through diplomatic channels. [...] |
2009-02-19 00:39:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER SNAR EC |
| 09QUITO127 |
HEAVY RAINS ISOLATE QUITO FROM ECUADOR'S COAST [...] Heavy rains in February washed out sections of the roads that connect Quito to Ecuador's coast. The three northern-most roads that link the highlands (Sierra) to the coast were all blocked over the weekend of February 14. The main coastal-highland highway that connects Quito to Santo Domingo [...] |
2009-02-19 12:29:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAGR ELTN ETRD ECON EC |
| 09QUITO13 |
GOE TALKS OF TERMINATING FRENCH, ITALIAN OIL CONTRACTS [...] (C) Summary: Ecuador's Petroleum Minister announced January 8 that the GOE would terminate oil contracts with two European oil companies, Perenco (French) and AGIP (Italian), in order to comply with an OPEC-mandated production cut. Minister Palacios justified terminating the contracts becaus [...] |
2009-01-13 19:00:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON EC |
| 09QUITO136 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE - U.S. RATIFICATION OF [...] (SBU) Embassy delivered reftel points to the MFA Multilateral Affairs Directorate on January 20 and followed up with Multilateral Affairs Director General Lourdes Puma on February 13. Puma noted that the GOE supports the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as well as the [...] |
2009-02-21 00:39:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AORC IAEA ENRG NPT PREL KNNP TRGY KTIA PARM |
| 09QUITO137 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE - NONPROLIFERATION [...] (C) Embassy delivered reftel points to the MFA Multilateral Affairs Directorate on January 30 and followed up with Multilateral Affairs Director General Lourdes Puma on February 13. Puma reiterated that the GOE fully supports non-proliferation efforts, especially against non-State actors. Sh [...] |
2009-02-21 00:42:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM EFIN MNUC KNNP GM EC |
| 09QUITO138 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE - U.S. PROGRAMS ON [...] (C) Embassy delivered reftel non-paper to the MFA Multilateral Affairs Directorate on January 30 and followed up with Multilateral Affairs Director General Lourdes Puma on February 13. Puma reiterated that the GOE fully supports efforts to combat illicit arms trafficking. PolOff noted that t [...] |
2009-02-21 00:44:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM MASS MCAP EAIR ETTC OAS PE EC |
| 09QUITO139 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE - DURBAN REVIEW [...] (SBU) Embassy delivered Ref A and B points to the MFA Multilateral Affairs Directorate on February 18 and followed up with Multilateral Affairs Director General Lourdes Puma on February 20. Puma thanked PolOff for the information, noted that the topic was important to the GOE, and that the MFA [...] |
2009-02-21 00:46:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL UNHRC EC |
| 09QUITO145 |
FOREIGN MINISTER ON REBUILDING BILATERAL RELATIONS [...] (S/NF) Summary. Foreign Minister Falconi told the Ambassador on February 26 that Ecuador wanted to move beyond the difficulties created by expelling two U.S. diplomats and continue counternarcotics cooperation. He said that the GOE is developing ideas on how the two countries can continue to [...] |
2009-02-27 17:35:00 | Embassy Quito | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL SNAR EFIN EC |
| 09QUITO15 |
WHITHER CORREA: A SHIFT FURTHER LEFT [...] (C) Summary: President Correa's rhetoric and actions in the last two months have veered off the pattern we witnessed during much of his earlier presidency. A harder left orientation is evidenced by his trips to Iran and Cuba, debt default, and sharp attacks on the U.S. In the past, while c [...] |
2009-01-14 00:18:00 | Embassy Quito | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL EFIN PGOV SNAR MARR EAID EC VE CU IR |
| 09QUITO151 |
ECUADOR 2009 SPECIAL 301 REPORT [...] (SBU) Summary and recommendation. No U.S. industry entities submitted complaints or comments regarding Ecuador for the 2009 Special 301 review. Ecuador has made some progress on IPR during the past year, but enforcement remains a serious problem. The enforcement problem warrants that Ecuado [...] |
2009-03-03 18:38:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KIPR ETRD ECON EC |
| 09QUITO154 |
NEW COORDINATING MINISTER FOR ECONOMIC POLICY BORJA [...] (C) Sum... id: 195027 date: 3/3/2009 21:03 refid: 09QUITO154 origin: Embassy Quito classification: CONFIDENTIAL destination: header: VZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHQT #0154 0622103 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 032103Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY QUITO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0110 INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 799 [...] |
2009-03-03 21:03:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PINR ETRD PREL EC |
| 09QUITO160 |
ECUADOR'S NEW VISION FOR RELATIONS WITH U.S. [...] (C) Summary: In a March 4 meeting, MFA U/S Orbe, speaking on instructions from FM Falconi, set the stage for Ecuador's vision for future relations with the U.S. He then called for a meeting between President Obama and President Correa to set a strategic agenda for future cooperation on the [...] |
2009-03-05 16:19:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SNAR EINV PGOV ETRD KJUS EC IR |
| 09QUITO173 |
GOE PRESSURES FRENCH, SPANISH OIL COMPANIES [...] (C) Summary: In another move to pressure foreign oil companies to sign new contracts, on February 21 the GOE told French Perenco and Spanish Repsol that they had 72 hours to pay monies owed under Ecuador's windfall petroleum revenue sharing law or their oil shipments could be withheld by the [...] |
2009-03-10 19:26:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON EC |
| 09QUITO175 |
DESPITE PROMISES, GOE FAILS TO ACT IN AVIATION TAX DISPUTE [...] (C) Summary. On March 3, 2009 EconOff met with Foreign Ministry representatives to discuss the GOE's taxation of U.S. carriers in violation of the U.S.-Ecuadorian aviation agreement. The Embassy has been engaged in discussions with GOE officials about this matter since March 2008. Although [...] |
2009-03-10 20:14:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EAIR ECON EC |
| 09QUITO176 |
GOE PEACE OVERTURES, THEN ANTI-U.S. JABS [...] (C) SUMMARY: The past week has seen President Correa veer from an awkward attempt to propose a new relationship with the U.S. to outbursts against the use of polygraphs and insinuations that the U.S. Embassy activities did not square with the Obama administration's policy. He also reiterated [...] |
2009-03-10 22:56:00 | Embassy Quito | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL SNAR KCRM PTER EC |
| 09QUITO177 |
ONE YEAR AFTER BREAK WITH COLOMBIA, GOE REMAINS [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Correa government ramped up its rhetoric against Colombia in recent weeks, spurred by a desire to defend itself against accusations of narco-politics, the first anniversary of the March 2008 Colombian attack on a FARC camp in Ecuador, and Colombian remarks. The GOE was deli [...] |
2009-03-11 23:43:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PREF SNAR OAS EC CO |
| 09QUITO178 |
HIGH-LEVEL CHINESE VISIT HIGHLIGHTS CLOSER TIES [...] (C) Summary: The Ambassador met privately with Chinese Ambassador Cai Runguo on February 27 to discuss the February 13 visit by Vice Prime Minister Hui Liangyu in Ecuador, as well as the Ecuador-China relationship more generally. Ambassador Cai downplayed the importance of the visit, and was [...] |
2009-03-12 14:56:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EINV EAID ETRD ENRG SMIG CVIS EC CH |
| 09QUITO18 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE--INTER-AMERICAN TROPICAL TUNA [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Econoff met with the GOE U/S of Fisheries Guillermo Moran and newly-appointed Director of Projects and International Cooperation Ramon Montano on January 8 and delivered the demarche points from reftel a. The GOE representatives stressed their desire to achieve progress through [...] |
2009-01-14 12:17:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIS SENV ETRD EC |
| 09QUITO185 |
EMBASSY SCIENCE FELLOW (ECUADOR) [...] (U) Post seeks an Embassy Science Fellow (ESF) to assist USAID, USDA, and ECON with the development of projects for a viable biofuels sector in Ecuador. The ESF will perform studies on the viability of certain crops for use in biofuel production from both agricultural and industrial standpoin [...] |
2009-03-13 20:34:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KSCA TSPL AMGT OTRA APER SENV ECON EC |
| 09QUITO188 |
Minister Borja on GOE Response to the Economic Crisis [...] (C) Summary. During a courtesy call with the Ambassador on March 11, Diego Borja, Coordinating Minister for Economic Production, described the broad parameters of how the government will adjust its budget because of falling oil prices. The GOE plans to cut investment spending in half and con [...] |
2009-03-16 15:31:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON PREL EC |
| 09QUITO191 |
CI/KR RESPONSE FOR S/CT [...] (C) This cable responds to reftel request for information on critical foreign infrastructure and resource dependencies. In the Embassy's view, Ecuador does not have critical infrastructure or key resources comparable to those listed in reftel. Ecuador produces petroleum, and its trans-Andean [...] |
2009-03-18 15:24:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV ASEC EFIN ENRG KCIP |
| 09QUITO196 |
ANOTHER U.S. OIL COMPANY LEAVES ECUADOR [...] (U) On March 12, as planned, Spanish oil company Repsol signed a new oil contract with the Government of Ecuador (details of the agreement can be found in reftel A). The same day, it bought out U.S. minority partner Murphy Oil's share of the petroleum consortium. On March 13, Murphy announce [...] |
2009-03-18 21:54:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON EC |
| 09QUITO202 |
ELECTION CAMPAIGN KICKOFF CONTENTIOUS [...] (SBU) Summary: T... id: 198604 date: 3/24/2009 17:31 refid: 09QUITO202 origin: Embassy Quito classification: CONFIDENTIAL destination: 08QUITO616 header: VZCZCXYZ0007 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHQT #0202/01 0831731 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 241731Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY QUITO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 018 [...] |
2009-03-24 17:31:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EC |
| 09QUITO204 |
ECUADOR'S MFA PITCHES YASUNI ITT CONSERVATION PROJECT TO [...] (SBU) Summary. On March 5, 2009 the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry presented a revised proposal to forego development of oil fields in the environmentally sensitive Yasuni Park in exchange for international compensation. The new initiative focuses on compensation based on carbon credits rather [...] |
2009-03-24 19:15:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EPET PREL SENV ECON EC |
| 09QUITO206 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE - RUSSIAN RECOGNITION OF [...] (C) PolOff delivered Ref A points to MFA Bilateral Affairs Director General for Europe Pablo Villagomez on March 23, 2009. Villagomez reiterated the position previously expressed by the MFA's Director General of Multilateral Affairs (Ref B), that the GOE was sensitive to issues of sovereignt [...] |
2009-03-24 22:04:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS MARR PBTS KPKO GG RS EC |
| 09QUITO207 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE - HCOC ANNUAL [...] (C) PolOff delivered reftel points to MFA Multilateral Affairs Director General Lourdes Puma on March 19. Puma said that the GOE had submitted its Annual Declaration during the week of March 2. She noted that the GOE submitted a simplified "nil form" as Ecuador does not have a space launch [...] |
2009-03-25 12:19:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MNUC KSCA ETTC TSPA EC |
| 09QUITO208 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE ON KOSOVO RECOGNITION [...] (C) In light of recent bilateral tensions over the expulsion of two U.S. diplomats (Ref B), Post did not deliver the demarche on Kosovo until March 23, when PolOff conveyed Ref A points to MFA Bilateral Affairs Director General for Europe Pablo Villagomez. Villagomez reiterated the GOE's pos [...] |
2009-03-25 12:19:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL AORC ICJ UN KV EC |
| 09QUITO216 |
SLOW-ROLLING THE GOE REQUEST TO PURCHASE F-16S [...] (C) Summary: The Ecuadorian Air Force (FAE) Commander signed an official memorandum on November 25, 2008 requesting a quote from the U.S. on the cost of purchasing 24 F-16 C/D Block 50 Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) aircraft, with the intention of replacing its outdated fighter fleet. Post delayed [...] |
2009-03-27 19:48:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR MASS MOPS EC |
| 09QUITO22 |
U.S. MACHALA POWER REACHES AGREEMENT WITH GOE ON INVESTMENT [...] (C) Summary. U.S. electricity generator Machala Power signed an agreement with the GOE December 19 to drop its arbitration claim in exchange for payment of approximately $70 million to cover past due GOE debts (payment and termination of the arbitration claim are still pending). The company [...] |
2009-01-15 16:59:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EINV ENRG ECON EC |
| 09QUITO220 |
GOE Policy for a Vulnerable Economy: Buying Time and [...] (C) Summary. The Ecuadorian economy, which is dollarized and heavily dependent on oil exports, is under considerable stress because of falling oil prices and the global economic crisis. Oil prices have risen in March, providing some relief. If oil prices remain at current levels or rise, th [...] |
2009-03-30 13:35:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON ETRD EPET EC |
| 09QUITO223 |
ECUADOR FISCAL TRANSPARENCY REPORT 2009 [...] The Government of Ecuador is a recipient of U.S. assistance monies under the FY2009 Foreign Operations Appropriations Act. The following is a narrative on fiscal transparency in Ecuador, as requested in reftel. 2. The Government of Ecuador publishes budget data, which is reasonably trans [...] |
2009-03-30 21:54:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID EFIN ECON PREL EC |
| 09QUITO224 |
US EMBASSY QUITO REQUEST FOR DVC TO SUPPORT THE SUMMIT OF [...] Post would like to request a Digital Video Conference (DVC) to support U.S. Mission Ecuador's outreach efforts to support the Summit of the Americas. The DVC will cover topics including the Summit process, energy security, human prosperity, environmental sustainability, and a discussion on ex [...] |
2009-03-31 15:22:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO OIIP ES |
| 09QUITO225 |
PRESIDENT CORREA REJECTS CRITICISM FROM INTERAMERICAN PRESS [...] (C) SUMMARY: At its midyear meeting in Paraguay March 13-16, the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) criticized President Rafael Correa and his government's attitudes and actions toward the Ecuadorian media. On March 17, Correa responded to the IAPA's declarations by rejecting its legitim [...] |
2009-03-31 20:46:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KPAO EC |
| 09QUITO227 |
COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE 2008 COLOMBIAN [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Correa government established a new commission to investigate the events surrounding the March 1, 2008 Colombian bombing of a FARC camp in northern Ecuador, as well as allegations of GOE ties to the FARC. The commission, whose members were chosen by Correa, will receive its [...] |
2009-04-01 14:52:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER MARR MOPS SNAR KCRM EC CO |
| 09QUITO23 |
ECUADORIAN TRADE WITH IRAN [...] (C) Summary: Following his participation in President Correa's trip to Iran in December, an Ecuadorian business leader explained to Emboff how potential commerce with Iran could work. To disguise trade with Iran, goods would be routed through Singapore and payments through Dubai. Funds from [...] |
2009-01-15 17:07:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ECON EFIN IR EC |
| 09QUITO233 |
POLICE UNIT INVESTIGATED WHILE CHAUVIN CASE INCHES [...] (C) SUMMARY: Ecuador's "narco-politics" scandal is playing out in perverse ways. The good guys ) key personnel of a specialized police unit that was responsible for most of the GOE's success against narco-traffickers ) are under investigation by the GOE for returning USG computers and fear [...] |
2009-04-02 22:27:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | SNAR PTER PREL PGOV KCRM EC CO |
| 09QUITO244 |
ECUADOR'S GOALS AT THE 2009 SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS [...] (C) SUMMARY. The GOE's focus for the April 17-19 Summit of the Americas has included seeking a one-on-one meeting between the presidents. One issue that Ecuador would want to stress during the Summit is the financial crisis. Other issues are currently being defined by the Foreign Minister's [...] |
2009-04-06 23:57:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PINR PGOV PREL KSUM EC CU |
| 09QUITO246 |
GOE EXPLAINS HIGH LEVEL TRIP TO WASHINGTON [...] (C) Summary: FM Falconi and Government Minister Jalkh on April 6 expressed concern to the Ambassador about an Embassy official's meeting with unsavory characters, and said that President Correa had asked a delegation to go to Washington to express GOE concern. The Ambassador made clear that [...] |
2009-04-07 20:03:00 | Embassy Quito | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL SNAR PINR MARR KCOR EC CO |
| 09QUITO253 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE: USG CANDIDACY FOR UN [...] (C) PolOff delivered reftel points to MFA Multilateral Affairs Director General Lourdes Puma on April 6. Puma said that the GOE had received the USG's diplomatic note, and views the USG's change in policy toward the Human Rights Council as a positive move. However, she noted that the GOE wa [...] |
2009-04-13 17:07:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM EC |
| 09QUITO254 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE: NORTH KOREAN TAEPO-DONG [...] (C) PolOff delivered reftel points and presidential statement to MFA Multilateral Affairs Director General Lourdes Puma on April 6 on the North Korean Taepo-Dong 2 launch. Puma said that the GOE would follow UNSC guidance on this issue and was aware of the split decision in the UNSC. She sai [...] |
2009-04-13 17:34:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM KNNP EC KN JA |
| 09QUITO255 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE: ECUADOR ON U.S. [...] (C) PolOff delivered Ref A points to MFA Multilateral Affairs Director General Lourdes Puma on April 6. Puma said that the GOE had its own candidate, Ambassador Luis Moreno, for another OAS body, the Juridical Committee and that the GOE was seeking an exchange of votes. There are four candi [...] |
2009-04-14 15:18:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EC PHUM AORC OAS IAHRC |
| 09QUITO256 |
AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH FINANCE MINISTER VITERI [...] (C) Summary: The Ambassador made an introductory call on Finance Minister Elsa Viteri on April 8. Viteri justified Ecuador's debt default and planned restructuring, supported Ecuador's balance of payment safeguard trade measures and mentioned the possibility of further measures, and expresse [...] |
2009-04-14 16:24:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ETRD ECON EC |
| 09QUITO257 |
DESPITE DELAYS, QUITO HOPES TO COMPLETE ROAD TO NEW AIRPORT [...] (SBU) Summary: Representatives from Quito's municipal government told EconOff on March 31 that, despite delays, they still hoped to complete a road to Quito's new airport in time for the airport's scheduled inauguration on August 10, 2010. The representatives detailed progress in securing lan [...] |
2009-04-14 21:18:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON BTIO EAIR EAID EINV ECIN EC MARR MCAP |
| 09QUITO261 |
ECUADOR'S PARTICIPATION IN MULTILATERAL MEETINGS [...] (SBU) MFA Multilateral Affairs' Alternate Coordinator of Summits Marjorie Ulloa confirmed on April 15 that Foreign Minister Fander Falconi will attend the April 18 UNASUR meeting as the "Plus One" with President Rafael Correa (Ref A). 2. (SBU) Ulloa also noted that Coordinating Minister of [...] |
2009-04-16 16:51:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL AORC PGOV ECON EFIN ENRG AMGT APER KSUM |
| 09QUITO269 |
ECUADOR BLUE LANTERN - END-USE CHECK ON LICENSE [...] (SBU) Embassy attempted to carry out a post-shipment check on license 050118116 for the export of inertial measurement units (IMUs) to Ecuador. However, the IMUs, a component to the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) sold to the Ecuadorian military by Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI), have no [...] |
2009-04-17 19:32:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ETTC KOMC EC IS |
| 09QUITO271 |
ECUADOR BLUE LANTERN CHECK ON LICENSE 050128842 [...] (SBU) Embassy confirms notification of the Ecuadorian military of the denial of license application 050128842 for the export of spare parts of MK 46 Mod 2 torpedoes. The Embassy spoke initially with the Head of Ecuadorian Navy Logistics, Captain Pablo Gordillo, in January and followed up wit [...] |
2009-04-17 22:31:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETTC KOMC EC |
| 09QUITO272 |
QUITO'S DESIGNATION OF TERRORISM FINANCE COORDINATION [...] In response to reftel, Quito has assigned Economic Counselor David Edwards as post's Terrorism Finance Coordination Officer (TFCO). Edwards' phone number is +593-2-398-5304; IVG: 644-5304. His email is edwardsdb@state.gov; his classified email is edwardsdb2@state.sgov.gov. 2. Quito's Dep [...] |
2009-04-20 13:43:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | KTFN EFIN ETTC PTER |
| 09QUITO277 |
Ecuador Proposes to Repurchase Bonds with 70 Percent [...] (U) Summary. The Government of Ecuador announced that it provided a bond repurchasing proposal to bondholders on April 20. The GOE said that it will repurchase defaulted bonds at a 70 percent discount, but provided few details as to how it will manage the process. End summary. 2. (U) Ac [...] |
2009-04-21 22:01:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON EC |
| 09QUITO283 |
COUNTDOWN TO ELECTIONS; PRESIDENT'S RACE FOREGONE [...] (SB... id: 203768 date: 4/23/2009 13:38 refid: 09QUITO283 origin: Embassy Quito classification: CONFIDENTIAL destination: header: VZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHQT #0283/01 1131338 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 231338Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY QUITO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0283 INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY [...] |
2009-04-23 13:38:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KPLS OAS EC |
| 09QUITO289 |
Scenesetter for President Carter: U.S. Engagement in Ecuador [...] Embassy Quito warmly welcomes former President Carter to Ecuador on April 27-29. Your visit comes at a time of change, as Ecuador prepares to install new national and local officials elected on April 26 and restructures its government institutions under the 2008 constitution. The Embassy's o [...] |
2009-04-23 21:04:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL MASS SNAR PTER EAID OVIP MOPS EC |
| 09QUITO296 |
COUNTDOWN TO ELECTIONS; PRESIDENT'S RACE FOREGONE [...] (SBU) Summary: With three days remaining before the April 26 elections, President Correa sits comfortably ahead of all other candidates, with polls showing him with enough votes for a first-round win. Recently arrived international election observation teams have reported concern with how the [...] |
2009-04-27 12:09:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KPLS OAS EC |
| 09QUITO297 |
SCENESETTER FOR PRESIDENT CARTER: U.S. ENGAGEMENT [...] Embassy Quito warmly welcomes former President Carter to Ecuador on April 27-29. Your visit comes at a time of change, as Ecuador prepares to install new national and local officials elected on April 26 and restructures its government institutions under the 2008 constitution. The Embassy,s [...] |
2009-04-27 12:09:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL MASS SNAR PTER EAID OVIP MOPS EC |
| 09QUITO298 |
COUNTDOWN TO ELECTIONS; PRESIDENT'S RACE FOREGONE [...] (SB... id: 204247 date: 4/27/2009 12:09 refid: 09QUITO298 origin: Embassy Quito classification: CONFIDENTIAL destination: header: VZCZCXYZ0002 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHQT #0298/01 1171209 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 271209Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY QUITO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0304 INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY B [...] |
2009-04-27 12:09:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KPLS OAS EC |
| 09QUITO299 |
SCENESETTER FOR PRESIDENT CARTER: U.S. ENGAGEMENT [...] Embassy Quito warmly welcomes former President Carter to Ecuador on April 27-29. Your visit comes at a time of change, as Ecuador prepares to install new national and local officials elected on April 26 and restructures its government institutions under the 2008 constitution. The Embassy,s [...] |
2009-04-27 12:09:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL MASS SNAR PTER EAID OVIP MOPS EC |
| 09QUITO300 |
CORREA VICTORY GIVES HIM BLANK CHECK [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Correa received the Ecuadorian people's vote of confidence on April 26 in a generally problem-free election, winning the presidency in the first round with 52% of the valid votes. This election, only 27 months into Correa's term, was required under Ecuador's new constitution. [...] |
2009-04-27 19:28:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KPLS OAS EC |
| 09QUITO307 |
ECUADOR'S INITIAL RESPONSE TO H1N1 FLU [...] (SBU) In response to global outbreaks of H1N1 influenza, the GOE has declared a national "State of Exception." The GOE response is continuing to take shape, but as of today, it has implemented the following measures: --The GOE banned imports of pork and pork products from the United States [...] |
2009-04-30 22:50:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CASC AMED KFLU ETRD EAGR ECON EC |
| 09QUITO308 |
NOT SO CALM AFTER THE STORM - ELECTION [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Contrary to initial reports that Ecuador's April 26 election went smoothly, cases of violence and fraud in a few provinces are coming to light in the days following the elections. Although these incidents are unlikely to alter the outcome in the Presidential race, general disc [...] |
2009-04-30 23:20:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV OAS EC |
| 09QUITO322 |
COMBATTING ECUADOR'S INCREASING REFUGEE POPULATION [...] SUMMARY: This cable summarizes a review of the World Food Program's (WFP) assistance to Colombian refugees (defined in this cable as persons of concern) in northern Ecuador. The review was conducted by Barry Burnett, USAID/DCHA/FFP, over the period April 6 - April 10, 2009 and included field [...] |
2009-05-06 15:58:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | PREF PREL SMIG EC |
| 09QUITO329 |
GUTIERREZ PARTY ON ELECTION FRAUD [...] (C) Gilmar Gutierrez, a Patriotic Society Party (PSP) National Assembly candidate and the brother of former president and 2009 presidential runner-up Lucio Gutierrez, met with DCM and PolCouns on May 6, at Gutierrez' request. He showed us election documents indicating a variety of different t [...] |
2009-05-07 20:53:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EC |
| 09QUITO33 |
GOE REQUESTS TIMELINE ON MANTA FOL [...] (C) Summary: Embassy and GOE officials met January 14 to discuss planning for the USG's withdrawal from the Manta Forward Operating Location (FOL). The GOE representatives were cordial and expressed an interest in joint coordination of the turnover of the FOL. The GOE noted that the Ecuador [...] |
2009-01-20 18:20:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR MASS MOPS SNAR EC |
| 09QUITO330 |
ECUADOR'S RESPONSE TO H1N1 PORK TRADE BAN DEMARCHE [...] (SBU) This is in response to reftel demarche asking host countries to remove trade bans on pork due to H1N1 fears. On May 6, the DCM, accompanied by USDA/FAS, USDA/APHIS, and Econ representatives, met with Agriculture Minister Poveda to deliver the demarche points. The head of Agrocalidad (E [...] |
2009-05-08 12:46:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAGR ETRD ECON EC |
| 09QUITO332 |
GOE PAYS U.S. ELECTRICITY FIRM MACHALA POWER, RESOLVES [...] (SBU) Summary: The GOE paid $60 million in March and April 2009 in settlement of an investment dispute with U.S. electricity company Machala Power, following an agreement between the two parties in December 2008. Machala Power has withdrawn its international arbitration claim and continues t [...] |
2009-05-08 12:46:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EPET ENRG EINV EC |
| 09QUITO344 |
FM FALCONI ON POSITIVE TACK IN MEETING WITH [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a May 7 meeting with the Ambassador, FM Falconi offered to assist in reaching agreements on USG cooperation with specialized Ecuadorian police units, seeking tax exemptions for vehicles the U.S. Forward Operating Location will donate to local charities, and concluding a bilat [...] |
2009-05-12 17:21:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SNAR MARR ETRD SCUL UNESCO EC |
| 09QUITO345 |
ECUADOR ELIMINATES PORK TRADE BAN RELATED TO H1N1 [...] (SBU) Ecuador lifted its ban on U.S. pork products that was issued because of concerns about the H1N1 virus (reftel c). The GOE issued a new resolution on May 7 that reversed its previous ban on imports of pork and pork products, live swine, and genetic material from the U.S. and Mexico. Now [...] |
2009-05-12 17:54:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAGR ETRD ECON EC |
| 09QUITO347 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE - IAEA DIRECTOR GENERAL [...] (C) PolOff delivered reftel points to MFA Multilateral Affairs Director General Lourdes Puma on May 12. Puma said that the GOE would continue to support Ambassador Yukiya Amano and had already confirmed its intention to vote for Amano to the Japanese government. HODGES [...] |
2009-05-12 23:46:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL AORC KNNP IAEA EC |
| 09QUITO348 |
ECUADOR CENTRAL BANK POSTS ROBUST GROWTH DATA [...] (SBU) Summary: According to the Ecuadorian Central Bank data, Ecuador's economy grew 6.5 percent in 2008. This strong growth was driven by heavy public spending. The economy contracted slightly in the fourth quarter due to pressure from the global financial crisis. End summary. 2. (SBU) [...] |
2009-05-14 20:19:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN EC |
| 09QUITO351 |
ECUADOR ECON UPDATE: BOND REPURCHASE; FINANCIAL LIQUIDITY [...] (U) The following is a periodic economic update for Ecuador that reports notable developments that are not reported by individual cables. Reactions to Government Repurchase Proposal ------------------------------------------- 2. (U) On May 1, a group reportedly representing bondholders [...] |
2009-05-15 16:23:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV ETRD EC |
| 09QUITO36 |
ECUADOR'S 2009 INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT [...] In response to State 123907, Embassy Quito reports the following update for its 2009 Investment Climate Statement. This update has also been sent to EB/IFD/OIA (J. Nathaniel Hatcher) by email. Openness to Foreign Investment Ecuador can be a difficult place in which to do business, althoug [...] |
2009-01-20 21:51:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED | EINV ETRD KTDB OPIC USTR EC |
| 09QUITO37 |
ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE - IMPORT RESTRICTIONS [...] (SBU) On January 16, the DCM delivered reftel demarche to Susana Cabeza de Vaca, Coordinating Minister for Production and head of COMEXI, Ecuador's trade policy council, and to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under Secretary for Bilateral Relations Carlos Jativa. Cabeza de Vaca said that she had b [...] |
2009-01-21 21:18:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECON EC |
| 09QUITO373 |
AMBASSADOR MEETING WITH MINISTER OF INDUSTRIES AND [...] (C) Summary: The Ambassador made an introductory call on Industries and Productivity Minister Xavier Abad on May 13. The Minister discussed the Ministry's infrastructure development plans and focused on ways to advance the bilateral commercial relationship, including a possible trade coopera [...] |
2009-05-21 16:51:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ECON EC |
| 09QUITO374 |
ECUADOR COMMEMMORATES WORLD IP DAY WITH IP AWARENESS [...] (U) In celebration of World Intellectual Property Day (April 26), the Embassy collaborated on several events in Ecuador. Economic, Public Affairs, and Foreign Commercial Service staff obtained promotional materials from WIPO and helped organize and support an IPR awareness roundtable held by t [...] |
2009-05-21 17:00:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON KIPR ETRD EC |
| 09QUITO375 |
ECUADOR - RESPONSE TO LIBERTAD ACT REVIEW [...] (C) The Embassy provides the following information on the relationship between the Cuban government and Ecuador in response to reftel. 2. (C) Ecuador has not worked to promote the advancement of democracy and human rights in Cuba, nor has it undertaken governmental action to condemn human [...] |
2009-05-21 17:34:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ETTC PREL CU EC |
| 09QUITO387 |
ECUADOR BLUE LANTERN CHECK ON LICENSE 050147882 [...] (SBU) Embassy confirms completion of a post-license check on license 050147882 for the export of ballistic plates for body armor listed in reftel to Ecuador. The Embassy spoke with the Head of Ecuadorian Navy Logistics, Captain Pablo Gordillo, who confirmed that the Ecuadorian Marines had or [...] |
2009-05-27 22:08:00 | Embassy Quito | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETTC KOMC EC |
| 09QUITO389 |
EMBASSY MEETS WITH GOE DELEGATION ON MANTA FOL [...] (SBU) Summary: Embassy and GOE officials met on May 15 to discuss plans for the USG's withdrawal from the Manta Forward Operating Location (FOL), to deliver a briefing and tour of the FOL's operations, and to deliver floor plans and drawings of the FOL's buildings and facilities. This was a [...] | ||||