Support for research project on process that led to peace between Ecuador and Peru

(Quito, September 8, 2008).- During the International Seminar on Building Bridges Ecuador-Colombia, a non-reimbursable technical cooperation agreement was signed by CAF and FLACSO to execute the project "Ecuador-Peru: Evaluation of a decade of peace and development" in view of the tenth anniversary of the peace agreements between Ecuador and Peru in October 2008. The signing took place in the presence of the Ecuadorian Foreign Minister, María Isabel Salvador, and the Minister Coordinator of Internal and External Security, Gustavo Larrea, as witnesses of honor, and of authorities from international organizations.

As FLACSO director general Adrián Bonilla said, the main objective is to research the experience of the Ecuador-Peru peace process as a way of describing positive and replicable experiences of dispute settlement to strengthen the Andean and South American integration process, identifying institutional mechanisms that generate long-term processes. The research will be reported and disseminated in international colloquia, and the results published in two monograph volumes.

CAF representative in Ecuador Luis Paláu-Rivas said execution of this project would highlight the need for peaceful coexistence and cooperation for development between Ecuador and Peru, as fundamental pillars of international relations, as well as pointing out the benefits of peace.

The six-month project covers development of 12 research topics on the lessons of the Ecuador-Peru peace process. These include diplomacy and policy, economic development, cultural exchange and border integration. In addition, two international seminars will be held in the cities of Quito and Lima.