Rafael Correa: These measures do not serve to overcome the crisis, it is only to liquidate the debt
Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador: "last year was a difficult year for Latin America; the region grew by 2.1% and Ecuador grew 3.8%. The "no oil" economy grew 4.3 percent, which puts us in a position of advantage in the region. How we did it? Well, we know the economy, we knew that the key is in the protection of our production and jobs. We weren't in the songs of "every man for himself" and the free market. Privilegiámos our production, our jobs with a very strong public investment programme which attracts private investors. We invest in infrastructure, energy and education. We, latinos, we specialize in crises. We went through them and we're worried about Europe because they are making the same mistakes that we made. Let's talk about Greece, for example. Let's talk about the conditions that the country is subject: IMF packages, we, Latin Americans, already there. All these measures serve to overcome the crisis, it is only to liquidate the debt. On the one hand, they offer money and funds, on the other, impose harsh measures: low wages, elimination of subsidies, mass redundancies in the public sector ... all this to get money in order to pay a private debt. After all, the countries into debt through multilateral treaties. All this just to ensure a private debt. People get nothing. Don't get out of the crisis. We saw this again in Europe. Is the supremacy of the capital about human beings in the name of so-called liberalism which in fact is no more than an ideology ".Euronews: "is that not a problem related to live above the possibilities?"Rafael Correa: "We went through all this. Was the debt crisis in Latin America in the 1980s. Before 1976 the bankers weren't coming to Latin America, or even on vacation. After 1976 they began to arrive in packs and go directly to the Ministry of economy with bags full of money, bribes, offering weapons to dictatorships and not promoting democracy. Created the huge Latin American debt and relied on the help of the media. They said that debt was aggressive, that projects were ultra and would permit the payment of debts etc ... the reality was totally different. Thanks to the oil shocks, the Arab countries have obtained a lot of money that were put on the banks of the developed countries. The business of banks is not save the money but invest it. They didn't know what to do with the money and invest it in Latin America. They did not know that the countries could also fail, until 1982 when Mexico declared that he could no longer afford more debt. It was then that the bankers came to the brilliant conclusion that it was a matter of over indebtedness, what they didn't say is that it was also a problem of excess loans. The banks knew the economic conditions in several countries, there were corrupt debts that were used to buy weapons and perpetuate the dictatorships in power. Now, you can ask me if the banks don't know the situation in Greece? The enormous fiscal deficits they other debts. And now they want to blame only to Greece for this? At least we share responsibilities. That's where the solutions. I am the first President in this country's economy expert. The Government has a good team of economic experts. We're very careful with our debt. Our Constitution prohibits the indebtedness for the construction of social projects. It seems a paradox. Why? Because on the one hand they press us to pay a debt illegal saying the country needs hospitals and schools. Then comes the IMF and the World Bank to provide money for "social development", they always seem well-intentioned. The projects can be very profitable but still need dollars to pay debts in dollars. Now we can only thank us when the projects generate profits in dollars. We have very carefully with the debt. And we have very carefully with the investment program also and where the money goes. We can pay debts but we want only very profitable projects ".Euronews: "Ecuador attempts to develop on multiple fronts. The Venezuela bet very oil profits. When prices dropped, the country fell into crisis. "Rafael Correa: "well, Venezuela is more dependent on oil than Ecuador and this can change in two years, 10 years or even 20 years. Are deep structural changes. Is development ".Euronews: "in your opinion Caracas will have committed mistakes?"Rafael Correa: "for example, the exchange rate system. A controlled system like the one in force in Venezuela is good in the short term. However, it doesn't work in the long run. That's why the country has a huge black market. There is a huge difference between the legal and illegal. All this creates huge distortions and corruption and the authorities know that. Mean you have to make enormous legal and even constitutional changes. It's not easy. There is even an opposition that is not democratic but unsettling ".Euronews: "How are relations with the United Kingdom despite the Assange case?"Rafael Correa: "Assange can spend as long as you want in our Embassy and will always be welcome. The problem can be solved today if Great Britain to grant the safe passage. Let's imagine for a moment that we are in his place. If we had a European refugee in a European Embassy in Quito, we stopped there for three years, would call us to dictators, fascists, we would have to respond on the International Criminal Court. The United Kingdom should grant a safe conduct. The Sweden can always make a deposition in our Embassy. Why did before? Now they're going to do it because otherwise the process is likely to prescribe. Are these issues that should put the British and Swedes ".Euronews: "have you ever felt exploited by Julian Assange?"
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