La Paz, August 27 (RHC)-- Bolivia's President Evo Morales criticized Sunday the decision of Ecuador's government to leave the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America - Treaty of Commerce of the Peoples, known as ALBA-TCP.

Morales wrote on his Twitter account that with this action, Ecuador "turns its back on the integration of the Great Homeland” and “betrays the decisions of its people."

The Bolivian leaded noted that notwithstanding this step, "ALBA members will continue fighting for the sovereignty and unity of Latin America."

Last Thursday Ecuadorean Foreign Minister, Jose Valencia, announced his country’s withdrawal from the international body to "ratify the independence of Ecuador."

Meanwhile, ALBA's Executive Secretary David Choquehuanca Cespedes said in a press statement that he respected Ecuador's "sovereign decision" but warned that such a move placed regional integration in severe jeopardy.

"Using the current political situation of the people of Venezuela and thus joining the efforts of some governments in the region to seek the demise of President Nicolas Maduro’s government makes clear the line that Quito has decided to take on these issues," Cespedes said.

In 2004, the then presidents of Venezuela and Cuba, Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro, met in Havana to found the regional integration body. In 2009 it was renamed ALBA-TCP in order to promote economic growth and solidarity among its members.

Current members of the Bolivarian Alliance are Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Dominica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, and Suriname.