Correa Asks Obama to Stop Double Standards Toward Latin America

[dipsydoodle]

Quito, Jan. 21 (Prensa Latina) The current President of Ecuador and PAIS Alliance candidate asked today that his U.S. counterpart, Barack Obama, end the double standards in his policies toward Latin America.

The Ecuadoran president wished Obama well in his second term, and for the greatest possible success in his government, but speaking as the former president of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) Correa also said the United States had scarcely changed its foreign policy toward the region.

"I got to know Obama personally at the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago (2009)," he said, "and he seems like a good person, but he continues to apply a double standard toward Latin America, where leaders are considered to be good if they are friendly with the United States."

Latin American and Caribbean leaders are seen as "bad" if they are seen as enemies, or if they fail to submit to the whims of U.S. presidents, Correa said in an interview with a number of different radio stations in the capital. "The most shameful presidents in Latin America have been put forward as examples of democracy, despite the accusations against them for their attacks on human rights and for their links with paramilitary and drug-trafficking groups," he added.

http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1031881&Itemid=1

[Judi Lynn]

1. Claro que si. Sad, but absolutely true. Thank you, President Correa. n/t

[newfie11]

2. Good for Correa

"The most shameful presidents in Latin America have been put forward as examples of democracy, despite the accusations against them for their attacks on human rights and for their links with paramilitary and drug-trafficking groups," he added.

"And those of us who give our lives for human rights are often slammed, called bloodthirsty ambitious dictators, within this policy of double standards," said Correa.


Boy if that isn't the truth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[flamingdem]

3. Thanks DD for posting this, so glad to see this pushback and

I hope to see much more. Obama needs to be called out on the hyposcrisy in Latin America, it doesn't befit him or his legacy.

[Zorro]

4. Translation

Although I'm reflexively anti-American, please renew our preferential trade agreement that expires this year.

[Bacchus4.0]

5. I forgot about that. Ecuador is the only nation left in that agreement

Peru is part of an FTA that superceded that, as is Colombia (not sure if Colombia was part of the Andean agreement). Bolivia was suspended.
There isn't much motivation for the US to make an agreement just for Ecuador.