OAS Approves Resolution that "Rejects" the Violation of Ecuador's Sovereignty

[magbana]

OAS: Respect for Ecuadorian Sovereignty

Washington, Mar 18 (Prensa Latina) The Organization of American States approved on Tuesday a resolution that rejects the violation of Ecuadorian sovereignty by Colombian military forces, despite US refusal to support the proposal.

Foreign ministers said the Colombian military aggression was a violation of articles 19 and 21 of the OAS Constitution, and reiterated the States' firm commitment to fighting threats to security.

Although the United States backed the report, they stated their disagreement with the fourth article, in reference to rejection of the Colombian incursion, after saying that South American country has the right to self defense.

The session also agreed to establish an observance mechanism to verify fulfillment of the resolution and that notes of the conclusions by a commission of the hemispheric authority that analyzed the situation at the border between Ecuador and Colombia are taken down.

According to the document, the OAS General Secretary Jose Miguel Insulza should present a report about the progress in fulfilling the agreement at the next General Assembly, to be held in Medellin, Colombia.

Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Maria Isabel Salvador told reporters she was satisfied with the OAS resolution against the violation of her country's sovereignty, and asserted that Quito will work to establish trust.

The bombing against a camp in Ecuador of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia on March 1 by military forces from Bogota generated a diplomatic crisis that caused a break of bilateral relations.

Both South American countries overcame the conflict the past week at the 20th Rio Group Summit, held on March 7 in the Dominican Republic. However, the OAS had not been made any statement about that issue.

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa was recently in favor of creating a new OAS without the United States, to solve the regional problems, fairly and quickly.

We need an OAS composed of regional countries only. "I mean, and Organization of Latin American States," said the Ecuadorian head of State in a radio message to his fellow citizens.

http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7B5B9358A9-F401-4A1D-986F-BBD4F09A16AE%7D)&language=EN

http://snipurl.com/22271

[Judi Lynn]

1. Better than a kick in the head, isn't it? I wish they hadn't been intimidated so much and would have

plunged right in and gone for the total CONDEMNATION this thing, of course, deserves.

So there's some quibbling about various aspects in order to try to deflect the fact the OAS STILL, in its own way speak AGAINST this nasty, filthy action by Colombia.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Ecuador and Colombia express satisfaction with OAS resolution

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Ecuador and Colombia express satisfaction with OAS resolution

Organization of American States (OAS) ministers meeting on Tuesday rejected the incursion by Colombian troops of Ecuadorian territory but also underlined the commitment of all member states to combat threats to security caused by the actions of irregular groups or criminal organizations and non interference in the internal affairs of other states.

The March first air and land attack on Ecuadorian territory against a FARC camp was labeled by Colombia as legitimate self defense and enabled its forces to kill the rebel group’s number 2 Raul Reyes, plus other rebels and capture laptops with sensitive information on the guerrillas’ intentions, allies and support.

When the incident occurred Ecuador and Venezuela cut diplomatic ties with Bogota and sent troops to their borders with Colombia. However a week later in Santo Domingo is a surprise move, and after hours of diplomatic engineering from other Latinamerican countries, the three presidents shook hands and opened the way for an understanding that was sealed at the OAS meeting with a unanimous resolution.

After hearing a report from an OAS delegation that had visited the site of the incursion and following hours of talks, the foreign ministers finally agreed on a resolution.

The text rejected the "incursion of Colombian armed forces and police into Ecuadorian territory" on 1 March. The action was taken "without the knowledge or approval of the Ecuadorian government, which constitutes a clear violation of articles 19 and 21 of the OAS charter".

More:
http://www.mercopress.com/vernoticia.do?id=12917&formato=HTML

[Judi Lynn]

3. Insulza's report ratifies that Colombia violated Ecuadorian sovereignty

Caracas, Monday March 17 , 2008

Insulza's report ratifies that Colombia violated Ecuadorian sovereignty

Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS) José Miguel Insulza said in a report published on Monday that the incursion of Colombian Army troops in Ecuadorian territory was "a violation of the sovereignty" of Ecuador.

The document said the military attack launched last March 1 against a camp of the rebel Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) in Sucumbíos, Ecuador, took place "without specific authorization" from the Ecuadorian government. The report added that the violation Colombia perpetrated runs counters the OAS Charter, under which "The territory of a State is inviolable; it may not be the object, even temporarily, of military occupation or of other measures of force taken by another State, directly or indirectly, on any grounds whatever."

In his report, prepared at the request of OAS ambassadors during a meeting in Washington two weeks ago, following a diplomatic crisis that erupted after the Colombian military attack, Insulza made six recommendations to solve the diplomatic and military crisis between the two countries, AP informed.

Insulza recommended organizing a group of observers, with the Dominican Republic and Uruguay holding the presidency and vice-presidency, respectively.

http://english.eluniversal.com/2008/03/17/en_colcd_art_insulzas-report-rat_17A1440519.shtml
opposition newspaper