Quito, May 10 (RHC) – Ecuador has called for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to leave the country by the end of September.

In a letter obtained by the Associated Press on Thursday, Ecuador’s government told the USAID that it “must not execute any new activities,” nor widen any existing projects in the country.

The letter, dated November 26, 2013, was signed by Gabriela Rosero of Ecuador’s international cooperation agency and was sent to the U.S. Embassy in the Ecuadorean capital of Quito. The letter was reportedly addressed to USAID program officer, Christopher M. Cushing.

Rosero said that the USAID must pull out by September 30th, and that “the decision has been made.” Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa suggested in December that the USAID's programs were no longer welcome in Ecuador, saying on one of his regular Saturday programs on television and radio that "we don't need charity."

In April, Ecuador ordered 20 U.S. military staff working at the U.S. Embassy in Quito to leave the country by the end of the month.

In January, President Rafael Correa publicly complained that the United States had too many military officers in the country. He said Ecuador planned to order some to leave. Observers say that the action was taken over concerns about Washington’s espionage activities.