Washington, DC – In response to the announcement by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) that it will close its offices in Ecuador, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement:
“I am deeply troubled by the Correa Administration’s decision to impose unacceptable conditions on international development assistance, which has forced the U.S. Agency for International Development to close its offices in Ecuador,” said Senator Menendez. “For more than a half-century, USAID has helped better the lives of hundreds of thousands of Ecuadorians and has played an important role in helping Ecuador address the effects climate change, protect biodiversity, improve standards of democratic governance, and strengthen independent civil society.”
“In the aftermath of the Government of Ecuador’s decision, I remain concerned about the trajectory of the bilateral relationship and I continue to be ever vigilant to any effort that the Correa Administration may take to undermine the rule of law, impede freedom of expression and association, and stifle the existence of a free press in Ecuador,” Menendez added.
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