A step forward in Colombia-Ecuador Talks
This post was written by CIP Intern Hannah Brodlie In September, Ecuador and Colombia began the process toward reestablishing diplomatic ties. This week, the two countries took another important step toward that goal, despite fears that the process would be jeopardized by both the new U.S.-Colombia military base agreement and an arrest warrant issued by an Ecuadorian judge for Colombian General Freddy Padilla. Diplomats from both countries met on Tuesday in Cotacachi, a town in northern Ecuador, and announced that they have agreed to name embassy charges d’affaires by November 15. The charge d’affaires will head each embassy’s mission in the absence of an ambassador. In addition, the two countries agreed to further strengthen the Bi-National Border Commission (COMBIFRON), and to continue working towards friendly relations. In 2008, Ecuador withdrew its ambassador from Colombia after the Colombian army crossed the Ecuadorian border to launch an ultimately successful attack on a FARC camp, killing FARC leader Raúl Reyes. After many months of tension, Colombia and Ecuador have recently begun to try to mend the diplomatic rift. The process suffered a setback when an Ecuadorian judge issued a warrant for the arrest of former Colombian defense minister Juan Manuel Santos and General Freddy Padilla, the head of the Colombian armed forces, for their role in the 2008 invasion of Ecuador. However, yesterday afternoon the charges against Santos and General Padilla were dropped.