|
Ecuador rejects US military aid
The Ecuadorian armed forces said
Wednesday that they support
President Alfredo Palacio's
decision to reject conditional
military aid provided by the
United States.
"Not long ago, the president
said it is not possible, in
exchange of military aid, to
grant immunity to US troops and
lose sovereignty," said Joint
Chief of Staff Manuel Zapater.
He said Ecuador has given "much
more than whatever has been at
its reach" with the acceptance
of a US base at Manta Port and
the deployment of 8,000
Ecuadorian troops to watch over
the Colombian border affected by
an internal armed conflict.
Zapater made the remarks two
days after a brief visit to
Ecuador by General Bantz
Craddock, commander of the US
Southern Command.
During his visit to Ecuador on
Monday, Craddock said the United
States will provide assistance
for the country according to its
democratic process.
|
|
