Ecuador

In 1941 a territorial conflict started between Ecuador and Peru which led to the "Protocolo de Rio de Janeiro" signed in January 29, 1942. Still several wars between the two countries carried on until October 26, 1999 when presidents Jamil Mahuad (Ecuador) and Alberto Fujimori (Peru) signed the "Acta de Brasilia". Peru gave 1 square-kilometer (called "Tiwintza") to Ecuador inside its territory where 14 soldiers are buried; also both countries signed commerce and navigation agreements in which Ecuador have unrestricted navigation rights on the Amazon River.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Ecuador

On November 24, 2002, Lucio Gutiérrez won the presidential elections. He became president on January 15, 2003.

Provinces

see Provinces of Ecuador

Geography

Main article: Geography of Ecuador

The capital is Quito and the largest city is Guayaquil.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Ecuador

Gustavo Noboa, who assumed the presidency in January 2000, has managed to pass substantial economic reforms and mend relations with international financial institutions. Ecuador completed its first standby agreement since 1986 when the IMF Board approved a 10 December 2001 disbursement of $96 million, the final installment of a $300 million standby credit agreement. In February 2003, newly installed president Lucio Gutierrez faced a budget gap and massive foreign debt. He has pledged to use oil revenues to pay off debt and is seeking additional IMF support.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Ecuador

The demographic composition of Ecuador's current population is ethnically and racially diverse. Today the majority of Ecuadorians are mestizos (of mixed Spanish and Amerindian ancestry), who constitute just over 65 per cent of the population. Second in numbers are the Amerindians of the various Andean and Amazonian nationalities, which combined constitute the country's largest minority, accounting for approximately 25%. Whites are mainly Creoles, unmixed descendants of Spanish colonist, and account for 7% of the Ecuadorian population. A small minority of Afro-Ecuadorians, including Mulattos and Zambos, constitute the remainder.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Ecuador

The culture of Ecuador mirrors the demographics of the country itself, and is a rich amalgam of various influences. Much like the ancestry of the mestizo majority, the national culture is also a mixture of both European and Amerindian influences, infused with various other elements inherited through the descendants of the country’s African slave past.

In addition to the national culture, many of the existing indigenous communities also practise their own autochthonous cultures.

Miscellaneous topics

Communications in Ecuador
Transportation in Ecuador
Military of Ecuador
Foreign relations of Ecuador
Ecuadorian-United States relations
Public holidays in Ecuador
List of Ecuadorians
Embassies in Ecuador
Reporters without borders world-wide press freedom index 2002: Rank 20 out of 139 countries

External link

Quito, Ecuador

Countries in South America
Argentina \| Bolivia \| Brazil \| Chile \| Colombia \| Ecuador \| Guyana \| Paraguay \| Peru \| Suriname \| Uruguay \| Venezuela
Dependencies: Falkland Islands \| French Guiana

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