Ecuador and the United States initiated dialogue to "positive agenda"

The Governments of Ecuador and the United States have begun talks to establish "a constructive bilateral agenda", the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry said today, after a period of significant political and economic differences between the two countries.

In a communique, the Foreign Ministry noted that Ecuador is exploring with the U.S. State Department "los temas más importantes de la relación bilateral". "the most important issues of bilateral relations."

These talks aim to "establish a formal mechanism for allowing discussions to develop in future programs and projects of mutual benefit in all areas where it operates such a relationship."

According to the note, in a recent visit to Quito the deputy director of the Office of Andean Affairs of the State Department, Andrew Bowen, met with responsible for the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry to "discuss the possible contents that could have a comprehensive bilateral dialogue."

The Bowen's trip marked the beginning of a "process of talks needed to reorient a bilateral relationship where prime mutual respect and the highest national interests," said the Foreign Ministry.

Political anti-American

Before the arrival of Rafael Correa to power, with the previous government of President Alfredo Palacio, were suspended in 2006 negotiations between Quito and Washington for an eventual Free Trade Area (FTA) between the two countries.

Correa, who assumed the presidency on January 15, 2007, announced in his campaign that did not sign an FTA with Washington, which was deemed to be harmful to his country, and also said he would not renew the agreement for use of the Manta Air Base, west of Ecuador, by U.S. trafficking in the area.

In trade matters, Correa and his government have attacked the multilateral financial agencies, both the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and criticized the system of arbitration on foreign investment, advocated by Washington.

Correa has also accused the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from U.S. to infiltrate the intelligence services and military police in his country and ordered a restructuring of these departments, it deemed "subject" to any directives from Washington.

He has attacked the foreign policy of U.S. President George W. Bush, ese Bush, who considers "warrior", in reference to the invasion of Iraq and that country's strategy for migration issues.