President Guillermo Lasso and Democratic Senator Bob Menéndez, chairman of the United States Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, referred to the United States-Ecuador Association Bill.
File photo of the chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, Democrat Bob Menéndez.
Menéndez along with other senators, such as Jim Risch, Tim Kaine and Marco Rubio, promote this bipartisan bill in their country to strengthen ties between the two nations.
The senator participated virtually in a press conference held this Tuesday, February 22, 2022, together with Lasso, which was broadcast from the Palacio de Carondelet, in Quito.
The document also includes cooperation in “strengthening democratic institutions, promoting inclusive economic growth, supporting the environmental conservation initiative and expanding capacities to address corruption and crime.”
From the Government Palace, in the center of the city, Lasso pointed out that both countries share fundamental values based on respect for democracy, human rights and the freedoms of their citizens, as well as the responsible management of fiscal resources, the protection of the environment and the implementation of social policies.
For Lasso, the initiative seeks to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various areas and reinforces the April 2021 resolution, approved by the Senate in support of the bilateral relationship and recognition of political and economic progress in Ecuador.
“Ecuador’s relations with the United States (…) from 2007 to 2017 were characterized by personalism, by radical attitudes, by excessively ideological attitudes, without recognizing the traditional relationship of the United States with Ecuador, our main trading partner. (…) This has changed in the last five years and particularly in my government”, said Lasso.
He added that the country has the expectation that this legislative support will bear fruit in the political, commercial and cooperation spheres; and it has special importance in security and the fight against transnational organized crime.
He indicated that it is essential to have greater support from the United States to guarantee the success of the fight that is being carried out.
For Menéndez, the project will expand cooperation in security matters, to confront drug trafficking, human trafficking, illegal fishing and other illicit activities. He further denied that he seeks to counter China and Russia.
As an example, Menéndez indicated that the General System of Preferences (GSP) could be reinstated, which gives tariff advantages and is currently not in force for Ecuador. (I)
