Ecuador and Colombia suspend resumption of diplomatic ties

Caracas, Venezuela, 23 June 2008. Quito and Ecuador disagree again and stop resumption of diplomatic relations accorded few weeks ago.  This afternoon, Ecuadorian Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Isabel Salvador regretted Colombian lack of seriousness as the cause for the impasse. Colombian Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo had also expressed his country reluctance to resume diplomatic relations due to aggressive comments made by Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa. Over the weekend, President Correa had expressed his county would set the timing for the full resumption of diplomatic ties with Colombia. He also explained that the resumption of commercial ties at charge d´affairs was a preliminary step only. Ecuador would press for a full clarification of the 1 March incident in order to decide for a resumption of diplomatic bilateral relations.

Diplomatic relations were disrupted after Colombian military and police forces invaded Ecuadorian territory illegally. Colombia claim it was responding to an attack made from a FARC camp in Ecuador but could not justify the incursion where 26 people died. The Colombian invasion caused a regional crisis that draw Venezuela and Nicaragua too. Military confrontation was avoided after political agreement and peace was reached at a Rio Group meeting in Dominican Republic.

Ex US President Jimmy Carter brooked an agreement between Colombia and Ecuador to resume commercial relations early this months.

Sources: Telesur, Vanguardia Liberal, Expreso, El Nuevo Siglo,  BBC, El Comercio, Hoy, El Colombiano,

Related stories: Ecuador and Colombia resume commercial relations, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela crisis: XX Rio Group Summit (updated III).