

Currently released so far... 12689 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AF
ASEC
AR
AEMR
AMGT
AE
AU
AID
AORC
APER
AS
AM
AFIN
AMED
AJ
AGR
ACOA
ANET
ASIG
ABLD
AL
AA
APECO
AGAO
AY
AGMT
APEC
AINF
AG
ACS
AECL
AFFAIRS
ABUD
ASUP
ADANA
AADP
AMCHAMS
ARF
ASEAN
ADPM
ATRN
ALOW
APCS
ADCO
ACAO
AORG
AROC
AO
AODE
ACABQ
AX
AMEX
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
ASCH
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORL
ADM
AN
AIT
BU
BR
BL
BO
BA
BB
BG
BM
BBSR
BH
BEXP
BK
BD
BTIO
BT
BE
BY
BF
BX
BP
BRUSSELS
BILAT
BIDEN
BC
BMGT
BWC
BN
BTIU
CH
CG
CF
CU
CE
CVIS
CASC
CO
CS
CA
CIDA
CBW
CW
CMGT
CI
CODEL
CY
CPAS
CJAN
CD
CWC
CDG
CIA
CL
CROS
CAPC
CTR
CT
CR
CBSA
CEUDA
COM
CFED
CV
CACS
CARSON
CLINTON
CN
CONS
CM
CAC
CIC
COPUOS
CDC
CONDOLEEZZA
CICTE
COUNTER
COUNTRY
CBE
CKGR
CHR
CVR
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CLEARANCE
COE
CARICOM
CB
CSW
CITT
CACM
CDB
CJUS
CTM
CAN
CLMT
CBC
CNARC
CIS
EG
EZ
EUN
ECON
ETRD
ECPS
EFIN
ENRG
ETTC
EPET
EINV
EAID
EAIR
EWWT
EU
EAGR
EC
ELAB
EIND
EN
EMIN
ESENV
ENNP
EFIS
ELTN
ET
ECIN
EFTA
ES
EINT
EI
ENGR
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENVI
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECINECONCS
ELN
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EXTERNAL
EXIM
ETRO
ENIV
ESA
ER
EK
EUR
EFINECONCS
EUMEM
EUREM
EPA
ERNG
ENERG
ECA
ETRC
EINVEFIN
ETC
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
ECONOMIC
EXBS
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
EREL
EINVETC
ECONCS
ETRA
EAIG
EUC
ERD
ETRN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
IS
IZ
IR
IC
IO
IN
ID
IGAD
IT
ILC
IAEA
ITU
ICAO
IMO
IBRD
IMF
ICJ
IAHRC
ITF
INRA
INRO
IWC
IQ
IV
ICRC
ICTY
INRB
IEFIN
ILO
ITRA
ITALY
IBET
ISRAELI
IL
INTELSAT
IRC
IDP
ICTR
IRAQI
IPR
IIP
INMARSAT
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
INTERNAL
IRS
IA
INTERPOL
IEA
INR
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
ISRAEL
IACI
INDO
IDA
ISLAMISTS
KSPR
KNNP
KWBG
KAWK
KISL
KPAO
KN
KS
KIPR
KCRM
KDEM
KIRF
KJUS
KHLS
KSCA
KOMC
KAWC
KV
KFRD
KWMN
KTIP
KPWR
KSUM
KGHG
KTIA
KTFN
KIRC
KCOR
KACT
KMDR
KGIC
KOLY
KUNR
KIDE
KMPI
KPKO
KCFE
KVPR
KRAD
KPAL
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KTEX
KTDB
KFSC
KZ
KSEP
KFLU
KE
KU
KPLS
KRVC
KRIM
KSTH
KG
KFLO
KPOA
KICC
KDDG
KPRV
KTBT
KBCT
KSAF
KMOC
KDRG
KBIO
KREC
KSTC
KVRP
KBTR
KMIG
KENV
KNSD
KCGC
KWAC
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KWMM
KPRP
KNEI
KPAI
KO
KVIR
KX
KMCA
KCRS
KMFO
KID
KCIP
KNAR
KR
KCRCM
KBTS
KSEO
KHDP
KFIN
KOCI
KGIT
KNUP
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KSCI
KTLA
KHIV
KCSY
KTRD
KMRS
KNPP
KJUST
KCMR
KTER
KRCM
KCFC
KSAC
KCHG
KREL
KFTFN
KCOM
KLIG
KDEMAF
KAID
KGCC
KICA
KHUM
KSEC
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KWWMN
KOM
KWNM
KRFD
KRGY
KIFR
KWMNCS
KPAK
KOMS
KHSA
MPOS
MOPS
MARR
MTCR
MNUC
MASS
MX
MCAP
MAR
MTRE
MASC
MK
MG
MTCRE
MI
MD
MA
MO
MY
MU
ML
MRCRE
MAS
MEDIA
MC
MR
MIL
MW
MARAD
MAPP
MZ
MP
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MEPN
MEPI
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MT
MCC
MIK
MAPS
MV
MILITARY
MDC
MEPP
MASSMNUC
MUCN
MQADHAFI
NATO
NG
NL
NZ
NT
NW
NO
NU
NS
NPT
NASA
NI
NK
NSG
NE
NORAD
NAFTA
NP
NATIONAL
NSSP
NSF
NA
NGO
NV
NR
NDP
NIPP
NZUS
NH
NC
NEW
NRR
NAR
NATOPREL
NPG
NSC
NPA
NSFO
OPDC
OPRC
OEXC
OTRA
ODIP
OIIP
OVIP
OPIC
OPCW
OAS
OREP
OSCE
OSCI
OES
OFDP
OECD
OCS
OIC
OPAD
OVP
OHUM
OFFICIALS
OIE
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OBSP
OFDA
ON
OCII
PREL
PGOV
PARM
PINR
PTER
PHUM
PK
PREF
PM
PHSA
PA
PINS
PE
PBTS
PCI
PO
PL
POGOV
PAK
PEL
PGIV
PROP
PP
PBIO
POL
POLITICS
POLICY
PINL
PBT
PMIL
POV
PTBS
PG
POSTS
PALESTINIAN
PROV
PNAT
PINF
PRL
PAS
PDOV
PRAM
PREO
PAHO
PHUMPGOV
PAO
PREFA
PSI
POLITICAL
PAIGH
PARMS
PROG
PTERE
PRGOV
PORG
PS
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PNG
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PGOC
PY
PLN
PHUH
PF
PHUS
PU
PARTIES
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PHUMPREL
RS
RU
RW
REACTION
RCMP
RSO
RO
RP
ROOD
RM
ROBERT
RICE
REGION
RSP
RF
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
RELATIONS
RFE
REPORT
SY
SP
SOCI
SMIG
SNAR
SCUL
SC
SU
SO
SI
SENV
SZ
SW
SA
SR
SF
SEVN
SN
STEINBERG
SEN
SG
SYR
SWE
SK
SH
SNARCS
SAARC
SNARIZ
SPCE
SARS
SNARN
SCRS
SYRIA
SL
SENVKGHG
SAN
ST
SIPDIS
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SANC
SHI
SHUM
SIPRS
TSPA
TSPL
TU
TBIO
TRGY
TPHY
TS
TP
TW
TBID
TI
TF
TZ
TD
TT
TN
TNGD
TC
TX
TH
TL
TIP
THPY
TV
TK
TERRORISM
TO
TRSY
TURKEY
TINT
TFIN
TAGS
TR
US
UNSC
UNGA
UK
UP
UNCHC
UN
UNMIK
UNCSD
UY
USTR
USOAS
UNHRC
UNFCYP
UG
UNAUS
UNESCO
UNIDROIT
UNO
UV
UNHCR
USUN
UZ
USNC
UNCHR
UNCND
UNEP
USEU
USPS
USAID
UE
UNVIE
UAE
UNDP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNDESCO
UNC
UNPUOS
UNDC
UNICEF
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 09QUITO937, Ecuador: Yasuni-ITT Initiative Still Searching for its First
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09QUITO937.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
09QUITO937 | 2009-11-06 19:39 | 2011-04-20 00:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Quito |
Appears in these articles: http://www.eluniverso.com/2011/04/19/1/1355/cable-233681.html |
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHQT #0937/01 3101939
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 061939Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY QUITO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0300
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0015
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO
C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000937
SIPDIS
LIMA FOR REO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/11/06
TAGS: EPET PREL SENV ECON EC GM UK SP
SUBJECT: Ecuador: Yasuni-ITT Initiative Still Searching for its First
Major Donor
REF: QUITO 657; QUITO 2...
id: 233681
date: 11/6/2009 19:39
refid: 09QUITO937
origin: Embassy Quito
classification: CONFIDENTIAL
destination: 09QUITO204|09QUITO657
header:
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHQT #0937/01 3101939
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 061939Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY QUITO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0300
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0015
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO
----------------- header ends ----------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000937
SIPDIS
LIMA FOR REO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/11/06
TAGS: EPET PREL SENV ECON EC GM UK SP
SUBJECT: Ecuador: Yasuni-ITT Initiative Still Searching for its First
Major Donor
REF: QUITO 657; QUITO 204
CLASSIFIED BY: Heather Hodges, Ambassador, State; REASON: 1.4(B), (D)
------------
Summary
------------
¶1. (C) Despite Ecuadorean President Correa's frequent claims to be
raising funding among European nations for Ecuador's Yasuni-ITT
rainforest/oil conservation initiative (Ref A), the reality is that
the Europeans are so far skeptical. During an October 27
conference at Chatham House in London, President Correa once again
announced that Germany had agreed to provide US$50 million a year
over 13 years for the initiative, and the GoE has also highlighted
Spanish government support in recent public announcements. The
German and Spanish Embassies in Quito clarified to Econoff October
28 that the GoE has grossly overstated their governments' support
for the initiative. Although both Germany and Spain have expressed
interest in the proposal, and financed small feasibility studies,
the Embassy representatives commented that Ecuador had not provided
sufficient details and had not been able to credibly explain what
would happen if a future Ecuadorean government began to drill in
Yasuni-ITT. The U.K. has flatly refused to fund the initiative.
An Ecuadorean delegation will pitch the project to OES November 12.
End Summary.
-----------------------------------------
An interesting plan in principle
----------------------------------------
¶2. (C) Following on the heels of Ecuadorean President Correa's
speech at London's Chatham House on October 27, in which he
repeated that Germany had pledged US$50 million to the Yasuni
project over 13 years, Econoff spoke with Raymond Dequin, the
Political/Economic Counselor at the German Embassy in Quito.
According to Dequin, the German government has not promised any
support for the Yasuni-ITT initiative (Ref A) beyond US$300,000 for
feasibility studies. Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Falconi visited
Berlin in June 2009, where he met and discussed this project with
Erich Stather, a State Secretary in Germany's Ministry of Economic
Cooperation. Dequin indicated that Stather might have appeared
overly positive on Yasuni. However, after Ecuador's Ambassador to
Berlin began to shop the US$50 million/year story to the press and
to supporters, Dequin said Stather wrote a letter to Minister
Falconi clarifying that he had never agreed to any financial
support, that the project proposal still needed work, did not mesh
with current emissions trading schemes, and lacked sufficient and
credible guarantees. The German Embassy in Quito also recently
released a statement to journalists clarifying that Germany had not
yet given any concrete funding assurances. Dequin was clear that
while support for the idea behind the initiative exists in the
German Bundestag and government, the plan is simply underdeveloped.
¶3. (C) Dequin believes the main flaw is that the plan does not
offer sufficiently strong guarantees to prevent future Ecuadorean
governments from abandoning the plan and pumping oil from the
Yasuni field. The proposal currently states that funds supporting
the project, gathered via donations or through the sale of "Yasuni
Guarantee Certificates", would go into an internationally monitored
trust fund that would invest in renewable energy projects in
Ecuador. The interest from these investments would be used to
support increased national energy efficiency, reforestation,
protection of national parks, and "social development." Should a
future government decide to pump oil, the trust fund would
supposedly return the contributions to donors. According to
Dequin, Roque Sevilla, the former Quito Mayor who is the President
of the Yasuni-ITT Commission and who briefed western diplomats on
the project in March 2009 (Ref b), told him that the investments of
the trust fund -- wind, hydro, and thermal alternative energy
projects, for example -- would be the ultimate guarantee to donors.
No one with whom Econoff spoke believed it credible that a future
Ecuadorean government that decided to renege on the Yasuni
guarantee would turn over energy plants financed with Yasuni money
to disgruntled foreign donors. This lack of a credible guarantee
was echoed by the Spanish and the British.
----------------------------
More details needed
----------------------------
¶4. (C) Javier de la Cal, responsible for Yasuni-ITT for the Quito
branch of Spain's international development agency, AECID, echoed
the questions raised by Germany's Dequin. He also stated that
Spain had yet to pledge any amount of money for support beyond
approximately US$200,000 for feasibility studies. The lack of
details on project guarantees, how the money would actually be
spent, and the Yasuni initiative's non-compliance with the Kyoto
Accords all prevented Spain from announcing any concrete long-term
support. However, de la Cal also stated that the idea behind
Yasuni enjoyed support within the Spanish Government -- it just
was not realistic as currently put together.
--------------------------
Brits not interested
--------------------------
¶5. (C) Econoff asked Christopher Poole, First Secretary at the U.K.
Embassy, if President Correa had received any indication of support
from the U.K. government during his trip. Poole said that
Ecuadorean officials were told that the U.K. would not support the
Yasuni-ITT initiative, as it was not in line with the U.K.'s energy
security policy, although other environmental cooperation was
certainly a possibility. Poole expressed little belief that the
Ecuadorean government would find sufficient support for the
Yasuni-ITT initiative as it currently exists, and speculated that
it was likely that the Correa government would soon tire of
soliciting donors and would begin to make preparations to exploit
the oil in Yasuni.
-------------
Comment
-------------
¶6. (C) Ecuador is known as a "serial defaulter" on international
obligations, and the Yasuni- ITT initiative appears to suffer from
the lack of trust that foreign governments have in the Correa
administration and future Ecuadorean governments' ability or
willingness to comply with their commitments. Should the GoE
somehow come up with convincing guarantees, and align the plan with
Kyoto or its successors, it might find some international support,
as its cash for carbon sequestration ideal is fully consistent with
negotiations and current projects under the UN's Reducing Emissions
from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries
(REDD) program. The GoE's best course may be to aggressively seek
to have oil reserves included in the REDD-based carbon trading
mechanisms to be negotiated in Copenhagen. The GoE has announced
that it will continue to lobby for support for the project in
capitals abroad; Roque Sevilla and Yolanda Kakabadse (the former
Ecuadorian environmental minister who will take over as president
of WWF International in January 2010) have a meeting with OES in
the Department on November 12, at the working level, to pitch the
project. (The Department of Energy refused a meeting; a number of
meetings are scheduled with House and Senate committees.)
Ecuador's former Foreign Minister Francisco Carrion, who returned
to government in February 2009 to support the Yasuni-ITT
initiative, was recently appointed as Ecuador's Ambassador to the
UN, responsible for continued evangelization and finding concrete
ways to implement the proposal. However, lacking the improvements
cited above, and a deeply detailed blueprint, possible donor
governments will continue to make soothing noises while keeping
their money close. End Comment.
HODGES
=======================CABLE ENDS============================