R 292143Z JAN 09
FM AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9688
INFO AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 
AMEMBASSY CARACAS 
AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 
AMEMBASSY LIMA 
AMEMBASSY QUITO

C O N F I D E N T I A L GUAYAQUIL 000023 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2019 
TAGS: PGOV EC
SUBJECT: COASTAL YOUTH ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT NEW U.S. 
ADMINISTRATION 
 
Classified By: Consul General Douglas Griffiths for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY: To celebrate President Barack Obama,s 
inauguration, Consulate General Guayaquil invited 25 young 
Ecuadorian leaders to participate in an informal discussion 
on what his election means for the world.  The participants 
uniformly applauded the fact that the U.S. had elected an 
African-American candidate who had so successfully energized 
our country,s youth.  They expressed optimism that the Obama 
administration would seek to improve relations with Latin 
America, but tempered their sentiments with a realistic 
acknowledgement that other issues would probably occupy the 
President,s time in the short term.  The participants 
praised the orderly transfer of power in the U.S. and 
expressed their frustration at the decades of turmoil that 
have wracked Ecuador.  Reflecting the growing unease on the 
coast for President Rafael Correa,s polemic dialogue and 
foreign policy direction, the young leaders (even those in 
government) roundly criticized Correa,s recent trips to Iran 
and Cuba.  END SUMMARY. 
 
YOUNG COASTAL LEADERS EXCITED ABOUT OBAMA PRESIDENCY... 
---------- 
 
¶2.  (U) As part of its celebration of President Obama,s 
inauguration on January 20, Consulate General Guayaquil 
organized a representational event at the Consul General,s 
house, to which it invited a group of Ecuadorians from three 
different cities who are under the age of 35 and future 
leaders in their respective fields.  Twenty-five of 
Ecuador,s rising stars in journalism, politics/government, 
education, civil society, sports and music attended and 
participated in a series of small discussion groups led by 
Consulate entry-level officers that focused on the 
significance of Barack Obama,s election for the U.S. and 
Latin America. 
 
¶3.  (C) As a group, the invited guests expressed delight at 
Obama,s victory, opining that it gave hope to people from 
minority and/or disenfranchised groups around the world. 
They were thrilled at the idea of an African-American 
president who connects with and motivates young people. 
Several young leaders commented on President Obama,s use of 
YouTube and Facebook during his campaign.  The participants 
also expressed hope regarding the impact of Obama,s election 
in Latin America.  They noted that former President Bush only 
visited Colombia in his eighth year in office and when he 
thought of the hemisphere, seemed to focus only on Mexico and 
Central America.  The guests felt that President Obama,s 
stated plans to rely more on diplomacy as a tool in 
international relations will help him pursue a more 
collaborative and constructively involved policy in the 
region. 
 
...BUT WARY THAT EXPECTATIONS MAY BE TOO HIGH 
---------- 
 
¶4.  (C) Although hopeful that President Obama will be able to 
achieve what he promised during the 2008 campaign, the young 
leaders who participated in the chat tempered their optimism 
with concerns that the world might be setting the bar too 
high for him.  They noted that it may be difficult for the 
President to maintain such high approval ratings in the face 
of difficult challenges, such as the economic crisis and the 
Iraq War.  In addition, the participants acknowledged that 
the President would likely have to focus on domestic economic 
issues first, leaving global concerns on the back burner 
initially.  They believe that Latin America will not be a 
priority at first, as the new administration will probably be 
focused on more pressing concerns in the Middle East. 
Despite their hopes for improved U.S.-Ecuador relations, the 
young leaders were skeptical that a more permanent trade 
agreement (something for which many Ecuadorians still hope) 
would be a priority. 
 
PARTICIPANTS EXPRESS ADMIRATION FOR U.S. POLITICAL PROCESS 
---------- 
 
¶5.  (C) The invited guests uniformly commended the U.S. for 
its open political process and its orderly transfer of power. 
 Just as many Ecuadorians expressed surprise at the fact that 
former President Bush and John McCain called President Obama 
to congratulate him on Election Night, the participants in 
the chat were impressed that Bush and Obama shared the same 
stage in the Inauguration and that Obama complimented Bush 
during his address.  They were similarly impressed that a 
U.S. president would choose a Secretary of Defense who had 
been a member of the previous administration.  They 
contrasted the smooth transition to a new government in the 
U.S. with Ecuador,s checkered history of overthrowing 
presidents before the end of their terms.  &If only we could 
learn from your system,8 said one participant. 
 
ECUADORIAN GOVERNMENT DRAWS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS PRAISE 
---------- 
 
¶6.  (C) In addition to lambasting their country,s political 
system, many of the participants were also highly critical of 
President Rafael Correa,s government.  They pointed to 
Obama,s success at pursuing policies of openness and 
inclusion and derided the Ecuadorian president for dividing 
the country through his persistent attacks and negativity. 
The guests also blasted Correa for reaching out to Iran and 
Cuba during recent trips to both countries.  Surprisingly, 
three participants who hold political appointee positions in 
the government cautiously joined in on the criticism of the 
trips.  They wondered about the President,s reaching out to 
countries that shared few values with Ecuador.  (Note:  These 
comments reflect a continuing regional divide, since young 
people in the highlands would likely have been much more 
positive about Correa.  They also reflect class divides as 
most of our guests were either middle class or striving to 
join the middle class.) 
 
BIG OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE U.S. IMAGE IN ECUADOR 
---------- 
 
¶7.  (C) COMMENT: The election of a popular new President who 
has promised a more collaborative approach to the world has 
coastal Ecuadorians yearning for a closer relationship with 
the U.S., and Ecuadorians are probably now more receptive 
than ever to U.S. outreach, programs and messages.  With 
heightened attention to what we are doing, efforts by the USG 
to show that we are taking an active interest in Ecuador will 
be noted. 
 
 
GRIFFITHS