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Press Release

HIGH-LEVEL MISSION RECOMMENDS OAS-FACILITATED
NATIONAL DIALOGUE IN ECUADOR

In its report to the Organization of American States Permanent Council today, the high-level mission that recently visited Ecuador renewed its appeal to all Ecuadorians to engage in an urgent national dialogue, facilitated by the OAS, in order to resolve the country’s political situation.

The report, which highlights the mission’s activities and discussions with the main players in Ecuadorian society, was delivered by OAS Acting Secretary General Luigi Einaudi, a member of the delegation that went on the April 26-30 visit. The delegation had gone to get a first-hand view of the situation stemming from the April 20 ouster of President Lucio Gutiérrez, and to seek to collaborate with the authorities as well as all segments of Ecuadorian society “in their effort to strengthen democracy.”

The mission also included Permanent Council Chairman, Ambassador Alberto Borea of Peru, as well as representatives of subregional groups within the OAS. It was created by Permanent Council resolution in the wake of events raised concern among the member countries.

Recalling preventive mechanisms provided for under the Inter-American Democratic Charter, the report reminds the authorities and Ecuadorian society at large that these could be used “to prevent a deterioration of the political system.” The mission recommends that the Permanent Council urge the authorities and all segments of society in Ecuador to find ways of reaching an agreement on a temporary solution to the problem of appointments to the Supreme Court of Justice.

Among other recommendations to the Council, the mission identifies actions to facilitate and promote dialogue in Ecuador, and asks the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to continue monitoring the human rights situation in that country. It also urges other competent organs of the OAS to make every effort to reach an agreement with the government on the measures required to overcome potential problems that could seriously alter the democratic process.

Former Ecuadorian deputy foreign minister Mario Alemán, a special envoy, asked for OAS Permanent Council support in what he termed “this difficult job” of rebuilding Ecuadorian democracy, to make Ecuador an integral part of the hemispheric fraternity of nations. He told the member state representatives that the new government in Ecuador has nothing to hide from the country nor from the international community.

The Permanent Council Chairman said the report would be given a more in-depth study to determine what course of action the OAS should take. He conveyed the collective sense of a number of ambassadors who, commenting on the contents of the report, emphasized the need to help strengthen Ecuadorian democracy.

Reference: E-096/05