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A Special International Report Prepared by
The Washington Times Advertising Department - Published on April 21, 1999
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Preparing the country for peace and promoting education
"Honduras and Nicaragua received a big shock," Noboa says as we sit in his office in the middle of historic Old Town, "but Ecuador had 14 months of devastation." El Nino ravaged the coastal areas. From Esmeraldas in the North, past Manta in the South, landslides destroyed roads and villages. "Hundreds of kilometers of roads became impassible," Noboa explains. The roads need to be drained, rebuilt and repaired. Despite the country's inner turmoil, Ecuador tried to help out its neighbors who needed immediate relief. The Ecuadorian Red Cross mobilized the population to gather food, clothes, medicine and money to send to Central America. Since 1996, Vice President Noboa has been involved in the peace process that led to the signing of a Peace Accord between Peru and Ecuador in Brazil in 1998. As a teacher, Noboa is very pleased that now without war, more reserves can be dedicated to education - 20th century style. "Education is one of Ecuador's biggest problems. We need education in order to better ourselves, our families and our countries," Noboa explains. "Knowledge is fundamental. In the 18th century, French liberalism was at the forefront. In the 19th it was the Industrial Revolution. The 20th century will be all about robotics and information. The Internet has endless possibilities. The assistance the United States could provide in education is very important." Noboa is convinced that this peace will be a lasting one because both the people and the government felt it was time to end the confrontations. However, it wasn't an easy peace. "The negotiations were difficult and tense. We needed a lot of will to keep working." When President Mahuad was elected in August, 1998, the countries were once again on the brink of war. But, instead of war, the two Presidents met in Paraguay where they decided that it was time for peace. Noboa believes that the Unites States was an important actor in the peace process. On President Mahuad’s recent travels to the United States to meet Presidents Fujimori and Clinton, Noboa says, "As a guarantor of peace between both countries, the United States acted as an important collaborator." Now that peace is being consolidated, the future for the country and the region looks bright. The administration can focus on political, economical and social development, rather than constantly preparing for war. Noboa concludes, "The peace has given Ecuador huge possibilities. We haven't had secure borders in 100 years." |
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Table of Contents (1) President Mahuad announces new economic plan |
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Abraham Lincoln dedicated himself to bettering the United States through the emancipation of slaves and the promotion of equality. President Noboa, an Abraham Lincoln look-alike from his beard to his stature, has also dedicated himself to public service. As the Rector of Guayaquil’s Catholic University, he helped prepare Ecuador's students for the future. Now, as Vice President for Dr. Jamil Mahuad, Noboa is in charge of getting the country back on its feet after the devastation of El Nino and the resulting La Nina.