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Press Advisory


OAS PERMANENT COUNCIL RECONVENES TOMORROW
TO CONTINUE EXAMINING THE CRISIS IN ECUADOR

  April 21, 2005

The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) decided to continue tomorrow Friday, April 22 at 3:00 p.m., its analysis of the ongoing political situation in Ecuador.

During today’s special session, the Permanent Representative of Ecuador, Jaime Barberis, described the recent events in his country and said that the situation in the last hours is by no means a case of “an alteration of constitutional regime that seriously impairs the democratic order.” Barberis added that “it is, on the contrary, a case of presidential succession within the framework established in the political constitution and other laws of the Republic.”

Barberis, speaking on behalf of the newly installed national authorities, informed the Permanent Council that “Ecuador is ready and open to receive the collaboration of the Organization of American States, and of its member states, in consolidating the rule of law and fomenting national dialogue and compromise.”

During the meeting, chaired by Ambassador Alberto Borea of Peru, some representatives of the hemispheric organization’s 34 member countries expressed their concern regarding the alteration of the normal state of affairs in the Andean nation. They agreed to gather more information about the situation that led the National Congress to swear in Vice President Alfredo Palacio as President of the Republic, as well as other developments, for further discussion tomorrow.


Reference: AVI-044/05