OT. Almost time for Nato to straighten things out :-)
Ecuador Rebellion Denounced
JANUARY 21, 23:27 EST
By HARRY DUNPHY
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — Meeting in emerging session, the 34-nation Organization of American States Friday night unanimously condemned a military-backed rebellion against Ecuador's President Jamil Mahuad.
In their resolution the OAS representatives, meeting at Ecuador's request, expressed ''full and firm'' support for Mahaud and warned there would be ''grave consequences in any attempt to destabilize the democratic system.''
The consequences could include suspension of bilateral aid from the United States and other governments, a halt to loans from international lending institutions such as the World Bank and expulsion from the OAS.
U.S. Ambassador Luis J. Lauredo said private investors would boycott Ecuador, fearing contracts would not be honored, if there was no constitutional government, and this would reduce jobs available to Ecuadorian citizens.
He said shippers would steer clear of an unstable government, making trade more difficult and touching off a wave of price increases for food and other goods that would hit the poor hardest.
Lauredo said a meeting to be held in Paris next week to pledge $1 billion to help Ecuador's crippled economy already had been canceled.
''We call on all Ecuadorians to use debate within their assembly as a means to express opinion instead of threatening unconstitutional moves against an elected government,'' Lauredo said.
The State Department issued a statement Friday calling the actions of those occupying the National Congress of Ecuador ''unacceptable and contrary to the firm and united position of OAS member nations against unconstitutional changes of government.''
The statement also said the people of Ecuador and the international community expect the armed forces and police to maintain order and defend the constitution.
While the State Department said they had no reports of Americans being affected, they did warn U.S. citizens traveling or residing in Ecuador to avoid protest areas and to consider leaving if the situation deteriorates.
At the OAS meeting, the ambassadors heard an impassioned plea from Ecuador's representative, Patricio Vivanco, ''to help save democracy in my country, which is in danger.
The OAS ''must face up to its obligations to provide support for democracy in this hemisphere. I hope my country will not be forced to leave'' the OAS, Vivanco said.
Delegates from Argentina, Mexico and other countries said stronger action than the resolution condemning the rebellion may be needed.
The council decided to closely monitor developments before deciding to call a meeting of OAS foreign ministers to decide what the next steps should be.
wire.ap.org
|
