Ecuador Asks the OAS to be Reformed During Insulza’s Visit to Quito

Miguel Insulza, OAS Secretary General (left), President Rafael Correa

Ecuador’s government on Thursday proposed to the OAS Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza, to restore the organism, said Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Ricardo Patiño.

“We are in talks. Secretary General is interested in knowing the position of Ecuador in that matter and so that is why he is here talking to us,” the diplomat said after meeting with Insulza, who turns a visit to Quito (Ecuador) during which he will also meet with President Rafael Correa.

Patino noted that “we do not pretend to agree with the Secretary General (…) We approximate some ideas, criteria, he has told us the positions that has so far known from other countries and we have told him ours,” he said.

On Tuesday, Correa said the Organization of American States “has been totally dominated by U.S. influence and has served for the foreign policy interests of that country.” However, the president noted, “It will be very difficult to achieve a profound reform of the OAS to really represent the interests of all countries … of the interamerican system, it will be very unlikely to release the OAS from the pressure of a powerful country like the United States.”

Insulza’s visit is fulfilled after Rafael Correa declined to participate in the Summit of the Americas, held on past April 14 and 15 in Colombia, as a protest because of the exclusion of Cuba and because they do not dealt with issues such as Argentina’s claim over the Falkland Islands. (FL)