BRAZIL – A month into the term of Colombian President-elect Juan Manuel Santos, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa reiterated his fears this Tuesday concerning the establishment of U.S. military bases in the region. The issue divides many in the South American community. Current Colombian President Alvaro Uribe argues that U.S. military bases are necessary to combat drug trafficking and guerrillas. However, the Brazilian government is opposed to the construction of these bases.
Correa believes that the measure creates instability in the continent. “This is a concern not only for Ecuador but for the entire region, as well,” he said. According to the Ecuadorian government, even though the bases are actually on Colombian soil, they are still under U.S. control. The Ecuadorian leader will take a trip to Venezuela in order to attend political meetings. These meetings will be documented by the Venezuelan official press, known as the Venezuelan News Agency (AVN).
Ecuador and Colombia have maintained a tense political relationship since March 2008. The tension came after the Colombian military attacked soldiers from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in Ecuadorian territory. During the attack, Raul Reyes, a top guerrilla leader, was killed, along with 16 other members of the FARC. According to the government in Quito, 22 people were killed in this attack. At the time, the president-elect of Colombia was serving in the position of defense minister. Correa indicated that the matter still needs closure. “We have always been willing, without forgetting the past, to look ahead and rebuild these bilateral relations, but again, not without benefit of an inventory.”
Correa also noted that there are legal proceedings underway in Ecuador on the issue and that Santos is quoted in the case as the head of the Ministry of Defense at the time. “The issue is being addressed through the Ecuador Justice Department, which is separate from the executive power,” he said.
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