Correa: Necessary Presence of Cuba in America’s Summit

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa reiterated the necessary presence of Cuba in the next Summit of the Americas Monday, and confirmed that he will give a response to the invitation made by his Colombian counterpart Juan Manuel Santos.

“If you check my intervention at the 5th Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago three years ago, you will see that I strongly denounced and required the absence of Cuba in the event,” he said.

In an interview with several radio stations from the province of Imbabura, made in the Palace of Carondelet (governmental house) Correa thanked Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos for his invitation, and said he did not want to cause a problem to the Colombian government.

But obviously, there were very important points to be discussed and analyzed, he said.

“If you check my intervention at the 5th Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago three years ago, you will see that I strongly denounced and required the absence of Cuba in the event,” he said.

“Back then, it was said that would be the last time Cuba should be absent from the event, because it should not be absent,” he said.

“The topic on the Falkland Islands leaves all the speech about integration, dignity, sovereignty, the great homeland, in the air. These are things we should analyze,” he added.

“Based on those convictions and principles, we anticipate our total thankfulness for the invitation, the insistence and the kindness on inviting us the Summit of the Americas by the Colombian government, to President Juan Manuel Santos,” Correa concluded.

Taken from Prensa Latina