Ecuador-Colombia: No
Clear Solution
The Carter Center
mission admitted the
lack of conditions
leading to a
rapprochement between
Ecuador and Colombia for
bilateral links, broken
since March, to be
resumed.
A Carter Center
communique released in
Quito reveals that
"required conditions are
nonexistent for local
authorities to continue
the efforts to resume
diplomatic relations
between both nations."
Led by former Ecuadorian
Foreign Minister
Francisco Carrion, the
group met on Wednesday
in Bogota with Colombian
President Alvaro Uribe
and also yesterday with
Ecuadorian President
Rafael Correa.
Despite its previously
expressed optimism, the
Carter Center admitted
there is no consensus or
similar views leading to
an atmosphere of
confidence to restart
contacts.
However, it considered
necessary to continue
efforts in this regard
and announced
willingness to cooperate
with the governments of
Quito and Bogota
whenever Uribe and
Correa deem convenient.
Following a request from
former US President
James Carter, the
parties agreed to
re-establish contacts
between charges d’
affairs, a step supposed
to be materialized on
Wednesday through an
exchange of letters.
But the announcement of
its postponement by
Colombian Foreign
Minister Fernando Araujo
upset Ecuador, which
cancelled indefinitely
the resumption of
relations "until a
serious, decent
government exists in
Colombia," as said by
President Correa.
In view of the Carter
Center's failed attempt,
the Secretary General of
the Organization of
American States, Jose
Miguel Insulza, canceled
a visit to Quito to try
to find a solution to
the bilateral diplomatic
crisis. |
