President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Alumnus Konstantinos Yfantis poses a question to President of Ecuador Dr. Rafael Correa also an Illinois Alumnus and recipient of the 2009 Madhuri & Jagdish N. Sheth International Alumni Award for Exceptional Achievement.

The ceremony took place at the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on April 8, 2010.

Video captured by ACSA Distinguished Professor of Architecture Kathryn H. Anthony.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Rafael
• Correa
• Konstantinos
• Yfantis
• Kostas
• Ecuador
• Greece
• Iran
• US
• Relations

[GringodeQuito]

Obama has dealt more effectively with much larger issues than Correa ever could and without limiting freedoms of speech, using tax-payer money to mount an intimidating propaganda machine, insulting anybody who stands in his way (and their family members) and breaking the laws to his convenience. To the person asking the question, who was so flattered by the laughter and applause, be aware that Correa is nothing more than a new brand of dictators - those who use demagogy to gain power.

[kostasyfantis]

@GringodeQuito I wanted to ask a question about Iran because I was intrigued by Obama's pledge to engage with the Iranian government & disappointed that he hadn't followed up on his pledge. My spontaneous question - I did not design it to elicit laughter. I've never lived in Ecuador thus I don't know how his policies affect his country & citizens. I hope Ecuador's democracy is healthy enough to allow its citizens to participate in elections that enable them to express their will.

[MrLE0NO]

Correa is the best president in the history in my country and we the people will be there to protect him and our constitution. he is not a dictator or any other than a democratic elected president.

[nycworldsfair]

ESTE PRESIDENTE SI TIENE HUEVOS Y DICE LAS VERDADES EN LA CARA, BIEN CORREA

[hatahata665]

@MrLE0NO yes well said Im Ecuadorian too and I live here in USA , Correa is the best president ever in the history of Ecuador. No president have never done what Correa is doing.

[GringodeQuito]

@dialpol Primero, no soy tu amigo. Y no seas el tipico hipocrita que lanza ese calificativo para despues insultarme ("..vivir de rodillas.."). Segundo, conozco muy bien la realidad de nuestra gente y si quieres discutir algun aspecto en concreto, con gusto. Tercero, no dudo que este hombre quiera cambiar nuestro pais pero el FIN no justifica el MEDIO. Y todos los medios que ha usado Correa han sido, en mi opinion, de lo peor. Hasta peor que la vieja "partidocracia" que supuestamente rechazan.

[dialpol]

obviamente no conoces los problemas de nuestra gente, vives en una nube amigo mio, este hombre en verdad quiere cambiar nuestro pais

el no se ha doblegado ante sicarios internacionales, parece que te gusta vivir de rodillas ante ellos.Ya te daras cuenta cuando se vaya este este presidente, pues puede suceder, otro vendra y pondra nuestro pais en venta

[GringodeQuito]

@kostasyfantis I just re-read my comments and I think my tone was unfair. Of course your intention was not to elicit laughter but I do think your question implicitly give a lot of undeserved credit to Correa. He's a populist, he wins elections yes, but he also has dissolved all institutions under this veil of 'democracy'. Many argue he has done a lot for Ecuador, and I do give him a lot of credit, but in my book of morality the Ends will never justify the Means. Thanks for your comment.

[GringodeQuito]

What concrete steps of engagements can there be with a country who believes that Israel should not exist, negates the holocaust and continues to build weapons of mass destruction? It upsets me when people who know very little about Correa or about Ecuador ask these types of adulatory questions. Correa give advice to Obama? Give me a break! And what Correa doesn't mention in his answer is that our "sovereign" foreign relations are determined by Hugo Chavez. Wake up!

[MultiEdu1984]

DIOS BENDIGA AL PRESIDENTE-.---

[Ninotchka999]

RAFAEL CORREA is honest, he has helped to Ecuador with: free health, free education, helps workers, support for pensioners, he created the world's greenest constitution, helping the disabled people by giving them work, Oil money is not going into debt, is going for Ecuadorians, Rafael Correa is the best president of the world, it's a shame that U.S. is caught between Democrats and Republicans, I hope to have more alternatives such as socialism.

[pidosilencio]

@ChiquitaMPaz calla, no sabes ni que hablas, no creo que sabes ni ingles y ya estas opinando.