The Executive Secretariat of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP in Spanish), regrets the statement by the Ecuadorian Foreign Minister during a press conference on August 23rd, 2018 about his government’s voluntary withdrawal from its participation in the Alliance. The Executive Secretariat takes due note and respects Ecuador’s sovereign decision.

However, using Venezuelan People’s current political situation to join some regional governments efforts seeking the exit of President Maduro’s government, clearly states the line adopted by Quito regarding these issues using them as arguments to terminate its participation in the ALBA-TCP.

The announced Ecuador’s withdrawal from ALBA-TCP is aligned with the political strategy currently developed by some South American governments, aimed at attacking the Latin-American and Caribbean integration; such as the case of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR in Spanish), a tendency that will surely extend to other integration mechanisms of Our America.

The ALBA-TCP Executive Secretariat respectfully reminds Ecuador’s government that the ALBA-TCP is governed by the principles of justice, solidarity, equity, cooperation, complementarity and the common will to move forward towards an equitable development based on the respect to the peoples’ sovereignty and self-determination, highlighting the human, social, political and economical development; the same principles that encouraged Ecuador’s accession to the ALBA-TCP and were publicly and repeatedly supported by Quito.

The noble and brave Ecuadorian people will continue being an important and leading part of the ALBA-TCP and the Peoples of Our America integration process.

Caracas, August 24th, 2018

David Choquehuanca Céspedes
Executive Secretary