Ecuador embroiled in diplomatic backlash after police break into Mexican embassy
Ecuadorian police patrol in Quito, Ecuador, Jan. 9, 2024. (Photo by Mateo Armas/Xinhua)
The UN chief urged both Ecuador and Mexico to show "moderation" and "solve their differences through peaceful means," the spokesman said in a statement.
QUITO, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Ecuador drew widespread criticism from the United Nations and several Latin American nations on Saturday after its police broke into the Mexican embassy in Quito and arrested former Vice President Jorge Glas, who has been taking refuge in the embassy since last December.
DIPLOMATIC BACKLASH
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was "alarmed" by the raid carried out by Ecuadoran security forces at Mexico's embassy in Quito to arrest graft-accused Glas, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for Guterres, on Saturday.
The UN chief urged both Ecuador and Mexico to show "moderation" and "solve their differences through peaceful means," the spokesman said in a statement.
The incident prompted Mexico to swiftly sever diplomatic ties with Ecuador. "This is a flagrant violation of international law and the sovereignty of Mexico," President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Other Latin American countries, including Cuba and Bolivia, were united in support of Mexico following the raid.
"All our solidarity with Mexico, in the face of the unacceptable violation of its Embassy in Quito. The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which is an essential component of international law, must be respected by all," said Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on X.
Ecuador's move "must be subject to strong repudiation, whatever the justification for its implementation," said Brazil's foreign ministry in a statement.
On Saturday, Nicaragua also severed "all diplomatic relations" with Ecuador. In a statement, the Nicaraguan government expressed its "absolute rejection" and condemnation of Ecuador's action.
WHO IS JORGE GLAS?
Glas served as vice president under Rafael Correa's government from 2013 to 2017.
In 2017, he was initially sentenced to six years after a court found him guilty of taking bribes from a Brazilian construction company. He was convicted again in 2020 of using funds from contractors to finance campaigns for Correa's political movement, resulting in an eight-year sentence.
He was last released in November 2022, but Ecuadorian authorities have recently accused Glas of embezzling government funds meant for reconstruction following a devastating 2016 earthquake.
Ecuador, which sought Mexico's permission to enter the embassy in March to detain Glas, argues that the asylum offer was illegal and has demanded his extradition.
According to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, a treaty regulating international relations, a country is prohibited from encroaching on an embassy located within its territory.
Related articles
Blow to Rishi Sunak's hopes for returning more small
Rishi Sunak's suggestion that more small-boat migrants could be returned to Vietnam has suffered a m2024-05-01International destinations excited to welcome back Chinese travelers
With the resumption of outbound travel in China after the country downgraded its COVID-19 management2024-05-01International destinations excited to welcome back Chinese travelers
With the resumption of outbound travel in China after the country downgraded its COVID-19 management2024-05-01Chengdu, a rising megacity based on sound governance
Chengdu, a city with a permanent population of 21 million in west China, may offer a glance into how2024-05-01- A psychologist has detailed the ways you can take control of any situation - from where to position2024-05-01
Chinese shuttlers into all five finals at Badminton Asia Championships
China is eyeing a sweep of titles at the Badminton Asia Championships with its shuttlers set to comp2024-05-01
atest comment