Mexico City, Mexico — President Andrés Manuel López Obrador thanked leaders and civil organizations for their solidarity after the illegal entry of Ecuadorian police into the Mexican Embassy.
In a publication, he reiterated his respect for the brotherly people of Ecuador and called on his fellow citizens to act with prudence to avoid harassment and not fall into provocations.
Mexico’s diplomatic personnel in Ecudaor have since returned to Mexico. Representatives of the chancellery “showed dignity and decorum, as was evident in the attitude of Raquel Serur, our ambassador, and Roberto Canseco, head of the embassy’s chancellery,” he said.
He also included the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, calling her performance “professional and effective in this painful matter. ”
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador affirmed that the illegal entry of police into the Mexican embassy in Ecuador on the night of April 5, was an authoritarian act and violation of national sovereignty, which led to the suspension of diplomatic relations with that country.
“It was a flagrant violation of our sovereignty, the right to asylum and international norms and laws. It was an authoritarian, incredible act,” he said Monday adding that the government of Ecuador possibly acted in this way because it is poorly advised by advisors, referring to them as “people who act according to their interests.”
In addition to violating sovereignty, the assault on the embassy violated the right of asylum and international treaties in a display of arrogance by the Ecuadorian government, said López Obrador.
Accompanied by members of the Cabinet, he highlighted the solidarity expressed by the international community. According to information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE), 29 countries including Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Uruguay and Argentina, the European Union and eight organizations, have spoken out in favor of Mexico.
“Thank you very much to the presidents, heads of state, diplomats, and foreign ministries of all countries, thank you very much from the bottom of my heart.
“Mexico is very grateful for the solidaridy of the international community, of the nations, because they have been very generous, very fraternal, very supportive; some with more drive, emphasis, others with strict adherence to what is established by law and others in their own way, but the majority supporting Mexico,” he emphasized.
President López Obrador recognized Mexico’s diplomatic corps in Ecuador, led by ambassador Raquel Serur Smeke. The eight representatives and their families arrived in Mexico on Sunday, April 7 on a commercial flight from Quito.
Regarding the legal situation of the former vice president of Ecuador, Jorge David Glas Espinel, who was taking refuge in the Mexican embassy under the status of guest and political asylum, the president clarified that it will be resolved by the corresponding international body.
The Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, reported that Mexico is preparing a complaint before the International Court of Justice. In addition, it will request the support of the foreign ministries and the countries of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and will send a letter to the secretary general of the United Nations (UN) to present itself to all member countries, the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly.
She reiterated that nothing justifies the invasion of the police forces into the embassy or the physical aggression and dignity of the diplomatic staff. By granting asylum to the former vice president of Ecuador, Mexico adhered to international law regarding the Vienna Convention and the Caracas Convention on political asylum, the Chancellor said.
She explained that the Mexican government had maintained direct and constant communication with Ecuador before the incident in order to address the issue of asylum, so they had to resort at all times to peaceful procedures, as established by the UN charter or the Treaty, the American Peace Agreement, called the Pact of Bogotá.
With the purpose of providing service to around 1,600 compatriots and 30 companies in Ecuador, the Mexican embassies in Chile, Colombia and Peru enabled their services.
For now, in-person documents will not be issued in Ecuador and attention will be provided digitally, the secretary reported.
The Government of Mexico suspended consular services and relations, while demanding respect for the premises, property and files of the embassy in Ecuador, which was closed indefinitely.
The head of the SRE assured that the Mexican government will not apply the same measures in the case of the Ecuadorian embassy in Mexico and called on the population to remain calm.
In due course, the Ecuadorian authorities will make decisions in this regard without any type of external pressure.
During the press conference led by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, Ambassador Raquel Serur Smeke, maintained that the Ecuadorian people do not deserve the government they currently have because, she said, they improvise and do not know the art of good government policy, as well as the significance of asylum and the importance it has in the diplomatic life of Mexico and Latin America.
“They are a noble people. They love our country and they assume our culture as their own. That is why I think that President Noboa was wrong to make a decision that not only breaks with everything established by international conventions, but also implies ignorance of the reality of his people,” he stated.
She considered the illegal break-in of the Mexican Embassy an outrage, the magnitude of which the government of Ecuador cannot yet measure.
“They do not understand that a State can protect and safeguard the life of a person without judging whether this person is innocent or guilty. They don’t know their own history,” she said.
The diplomat highlighted that Mexico is distinguished by the solidity of its institutions and the resolution of differences. Ambassador Raquel Serur Smeke also said she was pleased to have represented Mexico in Ecuador since 2019.
“The highest honor for me has been serving Mexico as ambassador to Ecuador. I left Ecuador with my head held high. I arrived in Mexico with my head held high and with the satisfaction of having fulfilled my duty,” she remarked.
“I am sure that the beautiful country that is Ecuador will pass this stage and will have brighter days. I wish everything good to that country and I ask that Ecuador be blessed with better times, its people deserve it,” she added.
