Correa Proposes ECLAC Changes in Inter-American System

Quito, Nov 11. – President Rafael Correa announced he will take to the Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (ECLAC), to be created in December in Venezuela, a proposal to make changes in the Inter-American System.

The Organization of American States (OAS) has a clear bias towards Washingtonâ�Ös institutionality, saying the U. S. presence and prevalence in that System is too obvious, Correa said.

The Ecuadorian president regretted how the system tries to use the Pact of San Jose, adopted in November 1969 to protect citizens from the continentâ�Ös dictatorships, to pursue progressive governments in the region.

"It is incredible to have to go to Washington to discuss Latin American affairs, when the United States does not recognize the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights," Correa noted.

Correa also condemned that a U.S. woman, Dinah Shelton, chairs the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (ICHR), and described as very dangerous having taken the country to that organization trying to make it look bad for defending private interests.

The reference alludes the thematic hearing held on October 24 at the OAS headquarter in Washington, where a group of Ecuadorian journalists denounced alleged threats to the freedom of speech made by the government.(Prensa Latina)