Diplomatic crisis between Argentina and Ecuador due to former minister Correa’s flight to Venezuela

The escape of the former Ecuadorian minister to Venezuela Maria de los Angeles Duarte opened a diplomatic crisis between Ecuador and Argentina, by expelling their ambassadors.

Duarte, minister of public works in the government of leftist Rafael Correa (2007-2017), this weekend left the Argentine embassy in Quito, where she had been a refugee with her youngest son for almost three years, to avoid going to prison. conviction for corruption. She considers herself politically persecuted and denies the accusations against her.

His departure to Caracas took place after the Government of Argentina Alberto Fernandez in December, he was granted the requested asylum, but that of Ecuador, which is presided over by a conservative William Lassowill deny him safe passage to Buenos Aires.

On Tuesday, Quito expelled the Argentine ambassador to the capital, Gabriel Fuks, considering him a person non grataand Buenos Aires responded by withdrawing the Ecuadorian ambassador to the country.

However, the Ecuadorian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Juan Carlos Holguinhe said wait “Yes it is dead end be fixed soon” and ruled out severing relations between the two countries, because “it would be a counterproductive measure due to the large number of Ecuadorians we have in Argentina.”

Meanwhile, Argentina defended its actions in the Duarte case on Wednesday international law, that, as her chancellor indicated, santiago cafiero, “offers mechanisms to resolve these controversies”. He also ruled out the possibility of the disagreement going any further, reminding that “Argentina’s deep respect for the people of Ecuador does not change with this temporary disagreement”, as both “are brothers united by history and a common future”.