Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
License needed for work use Register

Search

 

Cablegate: Former President Jimmy Carter Discusses Galapagos

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

UNCLAS QUITO 002268

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/AND
DEPT PASS USAID

E.O. 12985: N/A
TAGS: SENV EFIS EC
SUBJECT: FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER DISCUSSES GALAPAGOS
WITH PRESIDENT GUTIERREZ

1. Summary: At dinner on August 5, former President Jimmy
Carter discussed with President Lucio Gutierrez the
importance of protection of the Galapagos Islands.
Gutierrez also expressed concern for the issue. Carter
suggested that the Carter Center may host a conference on
the protection of the Galapagos, and Gutierrez promised to
send a high-level delegation to such a conference ready to
discuss in detail the options. End Summary.

2. At the end of his family vacation in the Galapagos,
Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter accepted the invitation of
President Gutierrez to meet for dinner. Ambassador also
attended, as did a variety of GOE officials and Gutierrez
friends and family. Ambassador had briefed Carter before
the dinner on U.S. priorities and efforts in the Galapagos.
Carter used his vacation as an introduction to the Galapagos
issue. He said his visit to the islands had worried him.
Uncontrolled population growth and questions about the
implementation of fishing regulations, together with
complaints about park management and cuts in the budget of
the national park operations raised doubts whether this
important ecological resource was being adequately
protected.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

3. Gutierrez admitted that he also was worried. The GOE
was taking action, though. A ban on shark fin exports would
soon be in place and would help defend marine resources near
the islands. The GOE would like to retrain fishermen in the
Galapagos and help them find other kinds of work, but funds
were scarce.

4. Carter noted that the Galapagos, of course belonged to
Ecuador. Still, we wanted to help. He expressed concern
that, despite the best of intentions on the part of the GOE,
this incredible ecosystem could disappear in five years. He
suggested that maybe the Carter Center could host a
conference to discuss the alternatives and how to implement
programs that would guarantee the future of the Galapagos.
If the Center did sponsor such a conference, would the GOE
participate? he asked. Gutierrez promised that the GOE
would participate in force. He would send the Minister of
Environment, and high-level officials from the Ministry of
Tourism. He was certain that representatives of the fishing
industry would also want to be concluded.

5. Comment: Jimmy Carter's concern for the protection of
the Galapagos clearly had an impact on Gutierrez' thinking.
We believe such a conference on Galapagos would be
particularly timely now, given the pressure on the islands.

KENNEY

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
World Headlines

 
UN News: Aid Access Is Key Priority

Among the key issues facing diplomats is securing the release of a reported 199 Israeli hostages, seized during the Hamas raid. “History is watching,” says Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths. “This war was started by taking those hostages. Of course, there's a history between Palestinian people and the Israeli people, and I'm not denying any of that. But that act alone lit a fire, which can only be put out with the release of those hostages.” More


Save The Children: Four Earthquakes In a Week Leave Thousands Homeless

Families in western Afghanistan are reeling after a fourth earthquake hit Herat Province, crumbling buildings and forcing people to flee once again, with thousands now living in tents exposed to fierce winds and dust storms. The latest 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit 30 km outside of Herat on Sunday, shattering communities still reeling from strong and shallow aftershocks. More

UN News: Nowhere To Go In Gaza

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said some 1.1M people would be expected to leave northern Gaza and that such a movement would be “impossible” without devastating humanitarian consequences and appeals for the order to be rescinded. The WHO joined the call for Israel to rescind the relocation order, which amounted to a “death sentence” for many. More


Access Now: Telecom Blackout In Gaza An Attack On Human Rights

By October 10, reports indicated that fixed-line internet, mobile data, SMS, telephone, and TV networks are all seriously compromised. With significant and increasing damage to the electrical grid, orders by the Israeli Ministry of Energy to stop supplying electricity and the last remaining power station now out of fuel, many are no longer able to charge devices that are essential to communicate and access information. More

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.