Cablegate: Amb. Siv Promotes Unga Agenda

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 QUITO 002362

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ECON PHUM KDEM AORC EC UNGA UN
SUBJECT: AMB. SIV PROMOTES UNGA AGENDA

REF: A. SECSTATE 152009

B. QUITO 2104
C. QUITO 2106
D. QUITO 2274
E. SECSTATE 181382

1. Summary: During a visit to Quito on August 21-22, U.S.
Representative to ECOSOC Ambassador Sichan Siv raised UNGA
demarche points (Ref A) and other multilateral issues with
Amb. Fernando Flores Macias, DirGen for Multilateral Affairs.
Ambassador Siv also expressed disappointment with Ecuador's
ECOSOC vote in favor of Cuba's ECOSOC resolution on July 22
(Ref B), inquired about Ecuador's candidacy for leadership of
the G-77, and explained U.S. views on the International
Finance Facility. Flores raised a recent GoE anti-terrorism
seminar he had organized, was unresponsive on the Cuba vote,
and vague about G-77. He highlighted new GoE activity on
TIP; otherwise his responses on UNGA issues tracked with
previous responses (Ref C). Flores also made several
suggestions to improve the effectiveness of the First
Committee. End Summary.

UNGA Demarche Issues
--------------------

2. Ambassador Siv raised the Monterrey consensus that each
country has primary responsibility for its own economic and
social development and importance of mobilizing domestic
resources in the private sector for development. He
expressed fundamental USG concerns with the practicality of
global taxation and said the U.S. could not support
mechanisms such as the International Finance Facility.
Flores agreed and noted the consensus encouraged regional and
sub-regional collaboration on development, which Ecuador
intends to pursue within GRULAC and the Andean community.
Siv asked about GoE views on human cloning. Flores said the
GoE was studying the issue with the help of scientific
experts and did not yet have a position. Ambassador Siv
emphasized USG commitment to strengthen collaboration to
combat trafficking in persons (TIP). Flores welcomed USG
interest and expressed GoE commitment to address the issue,
highlighting the August 18 announcement of a Presidential
decree addressing TIP and other related problems (Ref D)
Ambassador Siv made the point that democracies form the
majority in UN bodies and by working together could have a
profound impact on the operation of those bodies. Reducing
the number of Middle East resolutions also remains a U.S.
priority. Flores agreed that democracies should collaborate
to improve the operation of UN bodies.

Improving the First Committee
-----------------------------

3. Flores told Ambassador Siv that the GoE agrees with the
U.S. view (conveyed to him with delivery of the U.S. note
verbale on August 20 by PolOff, per Ref E), that
revitalization of the UNGA, including the First Committee is
of vital importance. He elaborated practical suggestions the
GoE will propose, including:

-- limiting congratulations and greetings to the beginning of
the session.

-- limiting sessions to address single themes, except in
general debate.

-- treat some recurring themes bi- or tri-annually.

Flores emphasized that the GoE believes it is essential to
ensure greater follow-up of UN resolutions to enhance
effectiveness.

Other Issues
------------

4. Asked by Ambassador Siv about the GoE candidacy for
leadership of the G-77, Flores said only that the leadership
issue should be sorted out soon within the GRULAC group. He
was more eager to raise the GoE's ongoing efforts to combat
terrorism, highlighting a recent GoE seminar involving
experts from Vienna and the OAS (which he had organized).

Comment
-------

5. Flores' vague response on G-77 might indicate lack of
confidence that Ecuador will eventually be selected as the
GRULAC candidate.
LEDAHAWSKY

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