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Ecuador to boycott Americas summit over Cuba exclusion | Ecuador to boycott Americas summit over Cuba exclusion |
(about 2 hours later) | |
President Rafael Correa of Ecuador says he will boycott this month's Summit of the Americas in Colombia because Cuba is not invited. | President Rafael Correa of Ecuador says he will boycott this month's Summit of the Americas in Colombia because Cuba is not invited. |
Mr Correa announced the move in a letter to President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia. | Mr Correa announced the move in a letter to President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia. |
He called Washington's veto of Cuban participation "intolerable", saying its exclusion was not by consensus. | He called Washington's veto of Cuban participation "intolerable", saying its exclusion was not by consensus. |
US President Barack Obama is among regional leaders due to attend the summit, held every three years. | US President Barack Obama is among regional leaders due to attend the summit, held every three years. |
"After some reflection I have decided that while I am the president of Ecuador, I will not attend any Summit of the Americas until it begins to make the decisions required," Mr Correa said in his letter. | "After some reflection I have decided that while I am the president of Ecuador, I will not attend any Summit of the Americas until it begins to make the decisions required," Mr Correa said in his letter. |
"There has been talk of lack of consensus, but we all know that this is the veto of foreign powers." | "There has been talk of lack of consensus, but we all know that this is the veto of foreign powers." |
Havana talks | Havana talks |
So far, Mr Correa is South America's only leader to confirm he will not attend the meeting, which opens in Cartagena on 14 April. | |
He proposed last month that the presidents of the leftist Bolivarian Alliance - which includes Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua - all boycott the summit. | He proposed last month that the presidents of the leftist Bolivarian Alliance - which includes Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua - all boycott the summit. |
However, the presidents of all three nations have since confirmed they will attend. | However, the presidents of all three nations have since confirmed they will attend. |
President Santos announced last month that Cuba would not be invited, following talks with Cuban President Raul Castro in Havana. | President Santos announced last month that Cuba would not be invited, following talks with Cuban President Raul Castro in Havana. |
Washington says Cuba should not be allowed to attend as it is not a member of the Organization of American States (OAS), which backs the event. | Washington says Cuba should not be allowed to attend as it is not a member of the Organization of American States (OAS), which backs the event. |
The US says Cuba does not meet OAS charter requirements that its member countries be democracies. | The US says Cuba does not meet OAS charter requirements that its member countries be democracies. |
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