FTA to highlight continental indigenous summit

The fight against free trade agreement (FTA) will be one of the main issues guiding the debate at the Second Continental Summit of Indigenous Peoples of America, Ecuadorian press said Monday.

The continental event, to be held here on July 22-25, is part of the First Social Forum of the Americas to take effect in Ecuador.

The summit will present a space for debating and a meeting for indigenous peoples, Humberto Cholango, President of the Government Council of the Confederation of the Kichwa Nationality of Ecuador (Ecuarunari) said.

"In the meeting we are going to share the experience of our fight in process like the free trade agreement," Cholango said.

About 200 international indigenous leaders and 200 representatives of different peoples and nationalities of Ecuador will participate in the debate.

According to the timetable, the delegates will discuss issues like lands, territories and natural resources, autonomy and diversity, multi-nationality and sustained development, indigenous knowledge and intellectual property.

The summit will be followed by a parallel event, the Forum of the Local Authorities of the Americas on July 25-26, to promote a new political, democratic and progressive version of public administration.

Source: Xinhua