Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 05QUITO592, ECUADOR,S NEW ENVIRONMENTAL MINISTER MORE

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.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

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. #05QUITO592.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
05QUITO592 2005-03-15 18:26 2011-05-02 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Quito
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 QUITO 000592 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIS ETRD PGOV PREL EC SEVN
SUBJECT: ECUADOR,S NEW ENVIRONMENTAL MINISTER MORE 
POLITICAL THAN ENVIRONMENTAL 
 
REF: QUITO 0540 
 
1. (SBU) Summary.  President Gutierrez named Juan Carlos 
Camacho as the new Minister of the Environment on February 
24, replacing the beleaguered Fabian Valdivieso.  Camacho has 
no real environmental experience and was given the position 
to assuage the block of independent congressmen who hold the 
balance in Congress.  Camacho is a political operator who is 
working for fishing interests in the Galapagos in order to 
secure their vote for the President.  He has also promised to 
take action on renewing the contract of a Swiss firm that was 
monitoring illegal logging in Ecuador.  At two different 
meetings (Reftel), President Gutierrez called for a balanced, 
sustainable solution to the Galapagos crisis.  While we are 
optimistic about the President,s words, we are wary of 
Camacho,s alliances with the fishing sector.  End Summary. 
 
-------------- 
Bio Says A Lot 
-------------- 
 
2. (U) Juan Carlos Camacho is more than anything a 
politician.  He was twice a congressional representative for 
Bolivar province ) first for the Concentracion de Fuerzas 
Populares (CFP) from 1988 to 1990, and then for the Izquierda 
Democratica (ID), from 1992 to 1994.  During his second term, 
he left the ID and became an independent. 
 
3. (U) In October 1994, then-legislators Simon Bustamante and 
Rafael Cuesta accused Camacho of being &the briefcase man8 
for the independents, implying that he was dispersing the 
cash used to buy the votes of independent congressmen. 
Camacho denies these allegations. 
 
4. (U) Camacho has no environmental experience except that, 
as he put it in a post-nomination interview, he &has planted 
trees with his own hands8 and &has a clear notion of what 
clean air is.8 
 
-------------------------- 
Courtesy Call Reveals More 
-------------------------- 
 
5. (U) The DCM and USAID Director paid a courtesy call to 
Camacho on March 8.  The DCM congratulated Camacho on his new 
position and said the Embassy stood ready to help him conquer 
some of the many difficult problems he will confront. 
Galapagos was the Embassy,s top environmental concern and we 
were encouraged by the President,s recent attention to the 
Galapagos crisis and call for a 30-day plan to resolve it 
(Reftel).  The DCM delivered our baseline message to Camacho 
-) that the Galapagos crisis is Ecuador,s to solve and that 
the international community wants to help Ecuador achieve its 
goals.  The DCM also urged Camacho to quickly address park 
management instability, monitoring and enforcement in the 
marine reserve, income-generating alternatives for fishermen 
and illegal immigration. 
 
6. (U) Camacho said he understood the need for action in the 
Galapagos and that he would take action, unlike his 
predecessor, who he admitted did not like to make decisions. 
Camacho would like to reform the Galapagos Special Law in 
order to stabilize and depoliticize the Galapagos National 
Park (GNP) Directorship.  He rejected the DCM,s suggestion 
(as per the UNDP/IDB/USAID consultants hired to analyze this 
problem) that it could be done by presidential decree. 
Camacho admitted that there is a lot of politics surrounding 
the Galapagos, suggesting that he too was involved.  He said 
he would meet with the Ministers of Tourism and Government 
soon, to reach a unified position on the Galapagos.  He also 
said that violent demonstrations in the Galapagos need to 
stop.  They damage the image of the islands and serve no one. 
 
7. (U) The USAID Director noted the USG,s $10 million 
investment in the Galapagos.  He also agreed with Camacho 
that dialogue is important among the players, and to that end 
the fishing sector needs to rejoin the Junta de Manejo 
Participativo (JMP - a Galapagos planning and advisory board 
comprised of the conservation, tourism, government and 
fishing sector representatives).  The fishing sector walked 
away from the JMP years ago citing conservation as the 
exclusive goal of the body.  Camacho accepted the invitation 
from the USAID Director for a full briefing on USAID programs. 
 
8. (SBU) The USAID Director also raised concern about the 
GOE,s failure to renew its contract with the Swiss firm SGS. 
 SGS was given a contract in 1999 to monitor illegal logging 
in Ecuador.  In 2003, bowing to pressure from powerful 
logging interest, the offices of SGS were closed and its 
contract allowed to expire.  The parties resolved outstanding 
legal problems and the GOE agreed to renew SGS,s contract. 
However, the GOE now claims it lacks the finances to renew 
the contract.  Though, we believe the problem is more the 
lack of political will than finances. 
 
9. (U) The DCM emphasized the extensive international 
interest in the Galapagos.  The Ambassador has been there on 
numerous occasions; several US Senators (notably Dodd and 
McCain) have been there, as has former President Jimmy 
Carter.  The previous Minister of the Environment had visited 
the Carter Center to lay the groundwork for an international 
forum.  We stood ready to work with Camacho in that regard, 
the DCM added. 
---------------------------------------- 
Meeting with Donors Confirms Our Opinion 
---------------------------------------- 
10. (U) Acting on the President,s orders (Reftel), Camacho 
convoked a meeting of donors.  He started the meeting by 
saying that we must avoid any future strikes in the 
Galapagos, but added that the fishermen in the Galapagos have 
threatened to demonstrate if the sea cucumber season remains 
closed this month (March) without a viable income-generating 
alternative for them.  The fishermen are pushing for 
long-line fishing as the desired alternative, otherwise come 
March 20 they will take to the streets. 
 
11. (U) The Spanish representative spoke eloquently about the 
problems in the Galapagos ) institutional instability, the 
need for sustainable development, illegal immigration ) but 
said that harvesting sea cucumbers and long-line fishing were 
certainly not the answer.  The other donors said that they 
wholeheartedly agreed with this assessment and noted that the 
March 20 strike date left little time for finding a lasting 
solution.  The Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) 
representative suggested that the GOE put the artesenal fish 
processing centers they funded, which are fully constructed, 
into production.  This could be done quickly and the products 
could be sold to tourists.  Others tossed out medium-term 
ideas for fishing alternatives.  One idea was to auction 
fishing permits to sport-fishing operators for tourists.  The 
permits would be limited in number, but tradeable.  Others 
spoke of raising park entrance fees and putting the proceeds 
in a fund to establish fishermen in other occupations.  The 
donors suggested that we get all the players together (to 
include fishing and tourism sector representatives) to 
brainstorm and agree on specific measures. 
 
12. (U) Though he listened, Camacho made no commitments, 
emphasizing that he is still in the learning process.  He 
added that his predecessor did not leave good files on the 
Galapagos and that there was no one to advise him.  He 
requested that Fundacion Natura and the Charles Darwin 
Foundation comment on fishing alternative proposals presented 
to the President during his trip to the Galapagos. 
 
13. (U) Despite his professed steep learning curve, Camacho 
was prepared enough to present a proposal.  As the meeting 
ended, he circulated his own proposed presidential decree 
that would require all tourists who visit the Galapagos to 
spend at least one night on land, would open the marine 
reserve to sport fishing, and (in an apparent jab at tourism 
magnate Roque Sevilla) would prohibit the use of submarines, 
or any kind of submersible naval vessel in the marine reserve 
(Sevilla wants to offer submarine tours in the Galapagos). 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
14. (SBU) The appointment of Camacho portends of further 
political expediency in the Galapagos.  Camacho is aligned 
with the independent vote, and is rumored to owe his 
appointment to (former PSC) Independent diputado San Martin, 
who led the effort to dismantle the forestry control system. 
He and Vinicio Andrade, the pro-fishing diputado from the 
Galapagos, whose vote the President has courted, have also 
laid out a clear agenda in support of fishing interests in 
the Galapagos. 
 
15. (SBU) Camacho,s proposed presidential decree lacks 
balance, feasibility and ultimately will only minimally 
benefit fishermen.  Our task will be to educate and guide 
Camacho toward more sustainable alternatives.  The 
President,s recent focus on Galapagos and public 
pronouncements give us cause for hope, but we need to see 
concrete actions.  The Ambassador will also sign a joint 
communiqu to the MFA asking that the SGS issue be resolved 
as soon as possible, as the treatment SGS received does not 
bode well for other environmental NGOs operating in Ecuador. 
KENNEY