Ecuador 'Ready' To Talk With Mexico, Reach Solution After Embassy Raid

Almost two months after that infamous raid in the Mexican Embassy, Ecuador wants to re-establish communications with Mexico and even reach a solution to that diplomatic rift that landed the South American country in hot water with a lot of its neighbors in the Americas, particularly countries with close ties to Mexico like the US.

Ecuador's Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld recently sat down for an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday and stated that they are "ready" for dialogue with Mexican officials with the only nonnegotiable matter being the "release from prison of Ecuador's former Vice President Jorge Glas," the target of that infamous raid.

Sommerfield also reiterated that they have already accepted Mexico's request for a third country to "help as a diplomatic communication channel." However, she declined to say which country it would be. Before that though, Mexico's own Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena stated in a different interview that the third country will "most likely" be Switzerland.

The raid by the Ecuadorian government, which led to both countries cutting ties with one another, happened after Ecuador did a raid on the Mexican Embassy to find the fugitive former Vice President Glas. However, the Mexican Embassy in Quito is considered to be on Mexican soil and the raid violated Mexico's sovereignty.

As a consequence, not only was the raid met with condemnation from Mexico, but also from many other countries and international organizations. This also led to Mexico filing a suit at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Ecuador, with Ecuador also filing its own countersuit.

Sommerfeld also admitted to the increasing number of Ecuadorians fleeing the country in recent years, many of whom are trying to go to Mexico and then to the US and seek asylum there. She told the AP that this is all because of the safety issues and lack of opportunities in Ecuador.

Mexico Vs. Ecuador ICJ Case Will Likely Take Years

As for the case the two countries have against one another in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the case will likely take years to resolve. However, it is moving as the top UN court recently rejected Mexico's petition to order Ecuador to protect Mexican diplomatic property.

"The court highlighted, among other things, that Ecuador has given repeated assurances that it would provide full protection and security to the premises, property, and archives of the Mexican Embassy in Quito. Ecuador stands by its assurances," said Ecuador's ambassador to the Netherlands, Andres Teran Parral, welcoming the ICJ decision.

AeroMexico Suspends Flights to Ecuador Capital Quito as Row Continues

Meanwhile, as the two countries try to re-establish relations, AeroMexico announced that it will be suspending its daily service between Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) in Mexico City and Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) in the Ecuadorian capital of Quito.

According to Live and Let's Fly. the suspension is mainly due to the Ecuador-Mexico feud over the Mexico Embassy raid. The suspension will happen starting July 1 and is expected to last for about 5 months.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Mexico accuses Ecuador of violating international law by storming Mexican embassy in Quito - Associated Press