Why was Venezuela’s ambassador expelled from Ecuador?
Migratory aid to Venezuelans will continue, but the diplomatic distance between Ecuador and Venezuela worsens
The current ambassador of Venezuela in Ecuador, Carol Delgado Arria, was declared persona non grata and was given 72 hours to leave the country. This was reported by the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry through a statement posted on Twitter.
Leer en español: ¿Por qué la embajadora venezolana fue expulsada de Ecuador?
Comunicado | @CancilleriaEc informa que frente a expresiones ofensivas formuladas por el Ministro de Comunicación e Información de Venezuela en contra del Primer Mandatario ecuatoriano, el Gobierno Nacional ha resuelto expulsar a embajadora de Venezuela: https://t.co/F7qPl2XNFj pic.twitter.com/qC2I3bSwd9
— Cancillería Ecuador (@CancilleriaEc) 18 de octubre de 2018
Although Delgado was in Ecuador since November 2014, the question that arises is: what was the reason for her expulsion? According to the Foreign Ministry, it was not for her but for "the offensive expressions formulated by the Minister of Communication and Information of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Jorge Rodríguez, against the Ecuadorian president, Lenín Moreno."
"The Republic of Ecuador will not tolerate any sign of disrespect for its authorities. However, Ecuador, faithful to its democratic and humanitarian principles, will continue to provide assistance to Venezuelan citizens who enter the country, contributing with a significant economic and social effort to protect their human rights, "the statement said.
The statements that angered the government of Ecuador
On October 17, Minister Jorge Rodríguez spoke about the speech given by the president of Ecuador, Lenin Moreno, in the framework of the UN General Assembly, calling him a "liar" for the figures that Lenin gave about the migratory crisis facing Ecuador.
Esta es la declaración del ministro venezolano Jorge Rodríguez que generó reacción de la cancillería del Ecuador y el anuncio de la expulsión de su Embajadora en Quito. pic.twitter.com/ewiO2m0rWJ
— Nestor Aguilera (@Nestor_Aguilera) 18 de octubre de 2018
"I heard a president say that his country was entering daily, I refer to Ecuador, 6,000 Venezuelans with diseases, etc.", said the Venezuelan minister, criticizing not only that number but also the number given in relation to the migratory crisis. "Liar, he is a liar, and he dares to lie on the United Nations podium because that was what he was ordered," Rodríguez said.
The foregoing opens up a broader distancing on the diplomatic level between Ecuador and Venezuela. Since Lenin Moreno came to power has been cutting little by little all kinds of relationship with the regime of Nicolás Maduro, who with his statements that Ecuador is allied with the empire to overthrow him, which he said publicly in his usual interventions transmitted by the state channel.
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The response of Venezuela to Ecuador
The Foreign Ministry of Venezuela did the same, but with the Chargé d'Affaires of Ecuador in Venezuela, Elizabeth Méndez, declaring her persona non grata and ordering her departure in 72 hours. However, the Foreign Ministry responded, as known by El País of Spain, "the official had already been called to consultations before she was expelled and recalled that Ecuador had no ambassador in the Venezuelan capital – or in Bolivia – since last July" .
Despite the diplomatic tension, the government of Ecuador clarified that the number of Venezuelan migrants who have passed through its territory is one million, of which 300,000 have remained, while 60,000 live and work in Quito. The supports will continue.
Latin American Post | Edwin Guerrero Nova
Translated from: 'Ecuador: La razón por la que la embajadora de Venezuela fue expulsada'
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