MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Ecuador: looking for a constitutional solution

Washington still does not recognize the new Ecuadorean authorities which emerged following the ousting of elected president Lucio Gutierrez, said United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice currently visiting Latinamerica.

"One should not be worried about changes in government, we can work with governments of the entire political spectrum, but this is not the matter: we are concerned that constitutional processes are preserved", emphasized the US official to the press covering the Latinamerican tour which began Tuesday in Brazil.

When asked specifically about the recognition of the new Alfredo Palacio administration, Ms. Rice said that "we haven't given that step yet; we're holding talks with many parties in Ecuador to try and establish, ensure that the constitutional process is respected".

"Currently it's crucial that the Ecuadorean people understand that the Organization of American States, United States, all members of OAS support a constitutional way for the situation", added Ms. Rice.

On Monday US ambassador in Quito Kristie Kenney held a thirty minutes "closed doors" meeting with President Palacio in the same colonial palace Carondelet where last week she met with ousted president Lucio Gutierrez in the midst of the current political crisis.

"We had important things to talk about", said Ms. Keeney who underlined that the important thing is "that we have good links with Ecuador and these will continue".

However she did not reveal further details of the meeting.

Meantime Tuesday evening an OAS delegation arrived in Quito with the purpose of helping to consolidate democracy and meet with government representatives, political parties, private sector, Catholic Church, unions and indigenous groups.

The delegation is headed by OAS Acting Secretary General Luigi Einaudi and members from Honduras, Peru, Chile, Guyana, Mexico and Venezuela.

"Our visit will attempt collect opinions from all sectors, so that the mission's conclusions can help support the efforts of the Ecuadorean people and authorities in building a democracy through dialogue", said Mr. Einaudi.

Next week the delegation is scheduled to present OAS permanent Council a report on the Ecuadorean situation.

Tuesday the 100 seat Ecuadorean Congress sacked all members of the Supreme Constitutional Tribunal and Electoral Tribunal, which had been named last November, and also disbarred eleven Congressmen belonging to ousted president Gutierrez group. The sacked legislators were accused of violating the "code of ethics".