id:

201915

date:

4/10/2009 19:05

refid:

09STATE35745

origin:

Secretary of State

classification:

SECRET

destination:

09QUITO145|09QUITO153|09QUITO160|09QUITO217

header:

O R 101905Z APR 09

FM SECSTATE WASHDC

TO AMEMBASSY QUITO IMMEDIATE 

INFO AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 

AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 

AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 

AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 

AMEMBASSY CARACAS 

AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 

AMEMBASSY LIMA 

AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 

AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 

AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL 

NSC WASHINGTON DC 0000

----------------- header ends ----------------

S E C R E T STATE 035745 

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2019 

TAGS: PREL, PINR, SNAR, EC 

SUBJECT: A/S SHANNON'S MEETINGS WITH ECUADORIAN OFFICIALS 

TO DISCUSS ECUADORIAN ACCUSATIONS OF U.S. INTERFERENCE 

REF: A. QUITO 217 

     B. QUITO 160 

     C. QUITO 153 

     D. QUITO 145 

Classified By: A/S SHANNON, REASONS 1.4 (B) and (D). 

1. Summary.  (S/NF) On April 1, A/S Shannon met Ecuadorian 

Justice Minister Jalkh, Vice Foreign Minister Pozo, and other 

GOE officials to discuss GOE accusations that an embassy 

official had taken actions to destabilize the government of 

Ecuador.  Making clear the GOE's desire to work with the USG 

on security matters, Jalkh alleged inappropriate contacts 

between the Embassy officers and Ecuadorian "bad actors" 

known to have a criminal history.  A/S Shannon responded that 

we would investigate the allegations, reaffirmed the U.S. 

desire to work constructively with Ecuador, and stressed the 

importance of working with Ambassador Hodges on this matter 

going forward.  At the conclusion of the meeting, Pozo handed 

A/S Shannon a printed presentation that summarized the GOE's 

allegations. 

2. (S/NF) Summary (Continued).  On April 3, A/S Shannon and 

DAS McMullen had a follow up meeting with Minister Jalkh and 

Ambassador Gallegos.  A/S Shannon informed Minister Jalkh 

that Embassy Quito had conducted a preliminary investigation 

of the allegations made by the GOE.  He said that the USG had 

not found inappropriate behavior on the part of the embassy 

offer.  He added that the USG was concerned that a third 

party might have been involved in this approach to the 

embassy, and he requested a cooperative investigation between 

the embassy and the GOE to get to the bottom of the matter. 

He noted that the United States has no desire to destabilize 

Ecuador and seeks cooperation.  However, he cautioned that 

any further expulsions of embassy staff would be very 

problematic.  Both Jalkh and A/S Shannon closed by stressing 

the need to get beyond current difficulties and reestablish 

broad cooperation.  End Summary. 

April 1 Meeting 

--------------- 

3. (S/NF) A/S Shannon met with Ecuador's Minister of Justice, 

Gustavo Jalkh; MFA Vice Minister, Lautaro Pozo; Permanent 

Representative to the UN, Maria Espinosa; Permanent 

Representative to the OAS, Efren Cocios; Chief of Staff of 

for VM Pozo, Efrain Baus; and Ambassador to the United 

States, Luis Gallegos, on April 1 to discuss GOE allegations 

of an effort by an Embassy Quito officer to destabilize the 

government of Ecuador.  WHA/DAS, WHA/AND Officer Director, 

INL/LP Office Director, and the Ecuador Desk Officer also 

participated.  Jalkh opened by noting that he had only been 

in his current position for six weeks.  He reviewed the tough 

work involved in reforming Ecuador's national police, and 

noted that security on the northern border of Ecuador is a 

key priority.  He stressed that social development in Ecuador 

is crucial to the task of protecting both human rights and 

security. 

4. (S/NF) Jalkh next stated that the GOE had found some 

issues that needed to be addressed to strengthen the 

bilateral relationship with the United States: "Cooperation 

is our goal; we wish to work together on all fronts through 

time, government to government."  Referring to the recent 

expulsions of two U.S. officials (reftels), Jalkh asserted 

that the GOE could not have responded any other way.  He 

added that the GOE hoped that such difficulties would not 

happen again and that the GOE needs improved communication 

with the United States. 

5. (S/NF) Jalkh moved on to the specific point of the 

meeting.  According to Jalkh, the GOE had evidence of an 

inappropriate meeting at Embassy Quito between an Embassy 

officer and "bad actors" in Ecuador.  Jalkh further asserted 

that the emboff offered benefits to these individuals in 

exchange for speaking ill of the GOE regarding narcotics 

matters.  Jalkh underlined that his goal was to address this 

matter so broader cooperation could take place.  He said, "We 

need to talk of this.  We want to work with you on this.  We 

believe in human rights and democratic controls.  This is a 

new type of government."  He added that the GOE had massive 

problems on its northern border and would like to cooperate 

with the United States on the refugee problem.  He also said 

that Ecuador does not get the recognition it deserves for its 

efforts on its northern border.  Summing up, Jalkh said, "We 

want to turn the page to our mutual concerns, but we have to 

get over this issue (of alleged Embassy meddling)." 

6. (S/NF) VM Pozo next spoke.  According to Pozo, "We know 

this is not the policy of the United States.  This is a clear 

conspiracy to destabilize the government of Ecuador.  There 

were phone calls to set up the meeting.  This involves a well 

known criminal.  It is very upsetting."  Pozo said the GOE 

did not meet with the embassy regarding this matter, 

ostensibly in an effort to reduce tensions.  Commenting on 

the GOE's recent expulsions of Embassy officials from 

Ecuador, Pozo said: "We know this (the allegedly nefarious 

actions of the expelled emboffs) is not the policy of the 

Department of State.  These were personal actions by these 

individuals."  He said the GOE wants this matter 

investigated.  Pozo said that President Correa told Pozo and 

Jalkh to travel to the United States to raise these issues 

and claimed that the GOE had a real desire to cooperate with 

the United States. 

7. (S/NF) A/S Shannon responded by thanking the GOE officials 

for the information they had provided.  He said the USG would 

investigate the situation, and told the officials that the 

United States had no interest in interfering in domestic 

matters, and was particularly sensitive to such concerns 

during an election campaign.  Shannon noted the efforts of 

the Correa administration to reconfigure the government and 

create the possibility of stability.  He added that a stable 

Ecuador with political and economic development is 

important--especially in an integrating and globalizing 

world: "We share an interest in improving dialogue, 

identifying common interests, and working together."  He 

noted that problems in bilateral relations between Ecuador 

and the United States would cause damage in the region. 

Pointing out that both countries are in a political 

transition, A/S Shannon said that the Obama administration is 

seeking to "reimagine relations in the hemisphere." 

8. (S/NF) Jalkh agreed, emphasizing the need to work on 

common interests.  He said the GOE was serious about 

democratic controls; about the fight against illicit 

narcotics; and about creating a new ethos and legal framework 

for the police.  Jalkh highlighted GOE plans to increase its 

police presence on the northern border.  He said the GOE 

would measure its effectiveness along the northern border, 

"not by resources added, but if we take down gangs."  Pozo 

echoed Jalkh's comments.  He said that Ecuador had a 

significant state presence on the northern border, with 

11,000 troops (or one quarter of all Ecuadorian troops).  He 

added that the GOE is worried about demobilized Colombians 

creating additional problems and said, "We are victims." 

Ambassador Espinosa briefly mentioned that Ecuador had an 

exemplary record with respect to refugees. 

9. (S/NF) A/S Shannon replied that the United States 

understands the problems Ecuador faces along its northern 

border, including the situation regarding refugees and the 

need for investment.  He pointed out that there are more 

Colombian refugees in the region than there are refugees in 

Darfur and that the lack of awareness in the hemisphere 

regarding the problem was the fault of the inter-American 

system, which has failed to capture and articulate the needs 

of refugees in the region. 

10. (S/NF) Moving back to the bilateral relationship, A/S 

Shannon asserted the need to reconfigure our diplomatic 

relations, and emphasized the confidence and respect the 

State Department and the White House had for Ambassador 

Hodges.  He also emphasized that occasional points of 

disagreement between the United States and Ecuador did not 

represent the totality of relations between the two 

countries.  Ambassador Gallegos responded to this final point 

by stating that "we need to denarcoticize relations" and 

focus on other items, such as economic, social, security, and 

development matters.  He commented that the bilateral 

dialogue presented a chance to expand relations and that new 

items should be added to the dialogue's agenda.  Gallegos 

noted that relations between the United States and Ecuador 

needed to be transparent and respectful. 

11. (S/NF) At different moments during the discussion, both 

Jalkh and Pozo raised the matter of vetted units in Ecuador 

(reftels).  Jalkh stressed that the GOE had three main 

requirements for future cooperation: first, any agreements 

must be in writing; second, all agreements must be 

coordinated through the GOE's MFA; and third, the vetting 

process must be collaborative.  He said that the GOE 

recognized that cooperating on intelligence matters was 

different, and that the GOE would try to accommodate the USG 

on this.  He also mentioned, "It is not good to have only one 

good unit" to combat narcotics trafficking in Ecuador.  Pozo 

stressed that vetted units must be under the control of the 

civilian authority. 

12. (S/NF) As the meeting ended, Minister Pozo handed A/S 

Shannon two documents providing details of illegal armed 

groups along Ecuador's northern border and the GOE's military 

position along the northern border.  He also provided a 

printed PowerPoint presentation that outlined the GOE's 

specific assertions regarding the March 24 meeting of the 

Ecuadorian "bad actors" and embassy officers. 

April 3 Follow Up Meeting 

-------------------------- 

13. (S/NF) A/S Shannon and WHA DAS McMullen met with Minister 

Jalkh and Ambassador Gallegos on April 3 for a follow up 

discussion.  A/S Shannon told Jalkh that Embassy Quito had 

completed a preliminary inquiry into the March 24 meeting, 

when the allegedly "inappropriate meeting" took place.  He 

said that what the Embassy had discovered caused us concern, 

though our concerns were different from those expressed by 

the GOE at the April 1 meeting.  A/S Shannon said that the 

USG was concerned that a third party might have been involved 

in this approach to the Embassy.  He said the USG considered 

it important for the GOE to work cooperatively with our 

embassy to investigate what happened; he asked the GOE to 

share any additional information -- such as tapes of 

telephone conversations between Munoz and Rodas following the 

meeting at the embassy.  He emphasized to Jalkh that the 

embassy official had done nothing inappropriate by simply 

meeting with Ecuadorians who had claimed to have information 

on the FARC. 

14. (S/NF) A/S Shannon reiterated that the USG had no reason 

to try to destabilize the Correa government.  He said that, 

given Ecuador's recent turbulent history, the USG was hoping 

that Correa would bring stability, democracy and development 

to Ecuador.  He added that the United States would like to 

get past this incident as soon as possible and reestablish 

close cooperation in areas of mutual interest. 

15. (S/NF) Minister Jalkh responded that the GOE appreciated 

the quick response and committed the GOE to working with 

Embassy Quito to follow up.  He pledged to set up a meeting 

with Ambassador Hodges on April 6 to discuss next steps. 

Jalkh added that the GOE also wanted to turn the page and 

move on -- and collaborate closely on a broad set of issues, 

not just security.  He said the GOE appreciated the U.S. 

decision not to retaliate for Ecuador's expulsion of two 

Embassy officers.  While the GOE believed that those Embassy 

officers had acted inappropriately, he acknowledged that the 

USG had the sovereign right to retaliate, but had chosen not 

to do so.  In an implied reference to the Summit of the 

Americas, Jalkh mentioned that it would be helpful if both 

countries' leaders could meet and get to know one another. 

16. (S/NF) A/S Shannon again stated that the United States 

wanted to find points of convergence with Ecuador and was not 

seeking confrontation.  He warned, however, that any further 

expulsions by the GOE would be very problematic.  He closed 

by stressing the importance of both countries moving beyond 

this rough patch in relations; he hoped that the April 6 

meeting with Ambassador Hodges and her team would be a first 

step in that direction. 

CLINTON 

=======================CABLE ENDS============================