Lima, October 16, 2008. The President of Ecuador and Chairman of the Andean Council of Presidents, Rafael Correa, proposed the construction of an "Andean Community for its Citizens” and recommended, in that connection, that the concept of Andean citizenry be made the “new focal point for coordinating the integration process.”

This proposal is part of a document entitled "An Andean Community for its Citizens” that President Correa personally distributed among the Andean Presidents attending the Special Summit held on October 14 in Guayaquil.  It contains elements that will make it possible to respond to this challenge with a medium- and long-term vision.  

The aim is for the Andean integration process to permit “its citizens to be committed to constructing a great vigorous and supportive integrated Nation, so that, in harmony with nature, we can confront the challenges posed by globalization and move ahead with an identity and strengths of our own.” 

President Correa stressed that the great challenge for the CAN is to build Andean citizenry by creating a space for the exercise of new rights, freedoms or guarantees additional to those recognized by the States; that the starting point should be the recognition and protection of Human Rights in Community action, and that it not discriminate against any Member Country citizens by reason of their nationality. 

He also deemed it important to create a feeling of belonging to the Subregional bloc, in such a way that citizen acceptance will endorse Community action, thus giving it legitimacy. "The consolidation of an identity constitutes the foundation for shaping new political rights and true Andean citizenship,” he explained. 

He added that this vision sees integration as tool for governance and sustainable development at the service of the shared interests of the Member Countries and their citizens.