Correa: Armed Forces must be prepared

Ecuador: Ecuador's President Rafael Correa urged Armed Forces to be prepared to respond firmly and with certainty for any internal or external threat.

He said the act of promotion of three captains of the Navy ship to rear admirals, and the graduation of new officers of the Higher Naval School, carried out at the Salinas Base, in Santa Elena province, on Tuesday.

"Faced with current threats hovering over our sovereignty and regular and irregular criminal raids, we should be prepared to respond firmly, certainty, absolute conviction, astuteness and intelligence," Correa stated.

"The uniformed people are a noble institution that protects peoples' rights, freedoms and guarantees," Correa said and reiterated that we will continue being a country of dignity, a sovereign homeland.

Among the support given during his mandate, he mentioned members' training, modernization of facilities and equipment, purchase of frigates, interceptive boats and renewal of submarines and information technology equipment.

Defence Minister Javier Ponce, Armed Forces' Joint Command Chief Gen. Fabian Varela, and Navy General Commander Admiral Allan Molestina, among other authorities, attended the military ceremony. Quito, Prensa Latina