PolEco: Ecuadoran newly elected President Rafael Correa discusses independence from Neo-colonial Liberalism - from Granma International (Cuban Daily)

Correa calls for second and definitive independence • Cuba and Ecuador to expand cooperation QUITO, May 24.— Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa highlighted his government’s social and economic progress before the National Assembly during the inaugural ceremony for his second term in office. Correa, who was reelected in February with 57.7% of the vote, stated in his address of close to two hours that, still pending in Ecuador, "is a second independence against poverty, inequality, and exclusion; we are fighting and advancing toward this second and definitive independence, and the country is profoundly and positively changing in the economic, political and social contexts," the Xinhua news agency reports. Before Correa was sworn in as President of Ecuador for the period 2013-2017, National Assembly leader Gabriela Rivadeneira, stated, "We understand that there can be no talk of genuine economic and political independence if there is no parallel social justice; and there can be no talk of a just and egalitarian society if the homeland is shackled by neocolonialism." Correa noted that, based on figures published by the Economic Commission for Latin America, Ecuador is one of three countries to have most reduced poverty, "the greatest attack on rights, human liberties and personal dignity." Correa launched an attack on the double standards of the United States in the context of human rights, which he described as neocolonialism, and warned, "This dignified America is nobody’s back yard." The President reiterated his criticism of the functioning of the Organization of American States. "The headquarters of this mechanism is in the United States, the country which has imposed a criminal economic, commercial and financial blockade on Cuba, in contravention of the organization’s founding charter. "This is the greatest violation of international law and human rights," he stated, adding that the same is true of the Malvinas Islands, taken by force in the 19th century. "These are British colonies, located more than 11,000 kilometers from the United Kingdom, but facing the Argentine coast." On the domestic front, Correa emphasized advances made in the country with the Citizens’ Revolution, which he has led since assuming the Presidency in 2007. "We are no longer controlled by finance capital, international bureaucracies, oligarchies; the Ecuadorian people are now in control here, that is the most important change for us," he stated. Rafael Correa swore his oath together with Vice President Jorge Glas, in a ceremony attended by Latin American and other heads of state and government, as well as diplomatic delegations and special guest. CUBA CONFIRMS COMMITMENT TO EXPANDING COOPERATION WITH ECUADOR Cuban First Vice President Miguel Díaz-Canel expressed his country’s interest in continuing to fortify friendship and solidarity links with Ecuador and expand cooperation and integration between the two governments and countries. In a statement to Prensa Latina, Díaz-Canel conveyed "Martí greetings from Fidel and Raúl Castro and the Cuban people," in the context of President Rafael Correa’s new four-year term. The Cuban Vice President emphasized that he had come to accompany President Correa, his government and the Ecuadoran people on the occasion of the swearing in and to support the Citizens’ Revolution in the name of the Cuban government and people. He highlighted Cuba’s alignment with Ecuador in all regional integration blocs, in a context of diversity, and stated that Cuba will make every effort to consolidate the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. This organization, he underlined, is the most important pro-integration forum, as it includes all 33 countries of the region. In this context, he commented, Ecuador will be of much support, given the prestige of its President and the Citizens’ Revolution. Cuba will continue to support Ecuador in its social and economic programs, Díaz-Canel noted, observing that there are many areas within which both countries can exchange experiences, technologies and organize joint projects. He recalled that historically, Ecuador has supported Cuba’s fundamental causes, systematically supporting the country in confronting the blockade, and in the cause of the liberation of the Five.  "The swearing in of Correa and his Vice President guarantees the continuity of the Citizens’ Revolution in Ecuador and is a contribution to the Bolivarian Alternative for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), to integration, and to the example which we are building together," Díaz-Canel emphasized.