CELAC could replace OAS, Correa says http://www.abn.info.ve/node/64465

The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) could replace the Organization of American States (OAS), because Latin America can solve its own problems without others" tutelage, underscored on Saturday the president of Ecuador Rafael Correa.“We need something new, something ours, and we have lot of hope that this new organ will even replace the OAS,” he stated.The creation of the CELAC was agreed in February, 2010, with the approval of 31 Latin American and Caribbean countries. Canada and the United States will not be included.

Moreover, the president of Ecuador confirmed his attendance on July 5 to the meeting in Venezuela aimed at constituting the new regional bloc.Correa recalled that the proposal to create the organization was born in Ecuador, as a consequence of the diplomatic conflict between Colombia and his country in 2008 after the Colombian Army bombed in Ecuadorian territory, without permission, a clandestine camp of the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC). The head of State said that the OAS “has discredit a lot to itself” with its performance.Moreover, Correa announced that his Government is working on a process to

regulate Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), so as to make clear what kind of activities are they conducting in the country.The goal is to make them comply with laws and work coordinately with the State.Correa denounced that people have to be on the alert, because the new strategy of the far right, “since they are losing elections everywhere”, is to create foundations and finance destabilizing plans against progressive governments.“Far right NGOs that are just focused on replace governments, impose their policies. If they can not do it, they try to destabilize the government. We can not allow such situations,” he said an put as example the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), which is attached to the US State Department.