Nobel Peace Price of 1980 and President of Chile Visit Ecuador

QUITO – Chilean President, Sebastián Piñera, and The Nobel Peace Price of 1980, Adolfo Pérez Esquivel visited Rafael Correa in the Presidential Palace today, to show him their support after the incidents of September 30th.

Pérez Esquivel arrived at 10.20 local time at the Presidential Palace and was received with honors. The Nobel Peace Price pointed out that the “salary claim from the Police was only a pretext for a Coup”. Esquivel did not talk with the Press before meeting with the President. In addition, he pointed out the coup attempt was a major ‘slam to Latin American Democracy’. “We need to see how to strenghten Latin American democracies. It appears we’re still very fragile” he said.

The ceremony started at around 11h00 local time (16h00 GMT) and for more than half an hour, the Ecuadorian President and Vicepresident Lenin Moreno, along with the President of Chile and the Nobel Peace Price were all present at the traditional event of the Changing of the Guard in Carondelet, the Presidential Palace of Ecuador. The event had a military parade, the anthem of Ecuador was played and songs in tribute to the Independence of Guayaquil City were sung.

In his speech with Correa, President Piñera talked about the 33 miners that are currently trapped inside the Chilean mine and are scheduled to get rescued on Tuesday night. “It’s going to be a moment of great joy and happiness” Piñera said. The Chilean President added his support of Ecuador is based on “the support for the legit Government of the country and the enforcement of the bilateral relationship between the two nations” informs the Government’s digital newspaper. Piñera added that his Visit aims to “deepen the long and historical friendship between Chile and Ecuador, improving the agreements of collaboration on Energy, Mining, Education, Technology, Renewable Energy, among other things”. In addition, Piñera highlighted his support for Ecuadorian Democracy, saying his government “wishes to make public the ratification of the most absolute support to the Constitutional regime of Rafael Correa… and the legitimacy of the institutions that belong to the Government that was built and chosen by the Ecuadorian people”.

In his speech, the President of Chile also emphasized on the good ties that exist between his country and Ecuador. “I want to confirm once again the common principles that makes Chile and Ecuador close, respect for international rights, full respect for international treaties in full force, peaceful settlement of disputes and our commitment to democracy and human rights” said Piñera. He presided the Change of the Presidential Guard, a ceremony that takes place every Monday in the Presidential Palace.

These visits on Monday are the first ones after the incidents of September 30th. On Tuesday, Bolivian President Evo Morales is reportedly visiting the Presidential Palace.

Pictures Courtesy of El Universo.