THE HAGUE: Ecuador’s early April raid on the embassy of Mexico to seize a former top Ecuadoran official was “exceptional” and aimed “solely” to bring a wanted fugitive to justice, the United Nations’ top court heard on Wednesday.
Security forces raided the Mexican embassy in Quito on April 5 to arrest Ecuador’s ex-vice president Jorge Glas, who was wanted on graft charges and had been granted asylum by Mexico.
Ecuador’s ambassador to the Netherlands told the International Court of Justice that the events of 5 April were exceptional and no longer existed today, according to AFP.
Andres Teran Parral said said that Mexico for months misused its diplomatic premises in Quito to shelter a common criminal who been duly convicted by the highest courts in Ecuador of very serious graft-related offences.
Alfredo Crosato Neumann, another of Quito’s lawyers, said that it was abundantly clear that Ecuador’s sole concern the entire time was to ensure that a person convicted for serious graft offences be brought back to justice.
Ecuador’s Incursion on Diplomatic Territory Sparks International Outcry
Ecuador’s rare incursion on diplomatic territory sparked a global outcry, and led Mexico to break relations with Ecuador and pull its diplomats out of the country.
Lawyers and representatives from both nations crossed legal swords before the ICJ on Tuesday and Wednesday, where Mexico has submitted a case against the South American country.
Mexico has asked the judges at the court– which rules in disputes against nations — to hand down a number of emergency steps while the case proper will be heard at a later stage.
This included immediate steps to protect its embassy and diplomatic premises in Quito and to allow the Mexican government to clear diplomatic premises and the private residence of diplomatic agents.
On Tuesday, Mexico’s representatives told judges at ICJ that Quito’s raid had crossed a line setting a “disconcerting” example in diplomatic ties.
In its application, Mexico also asked ICJ to suspend Ecuador as a member of the UN until it issues a public apology recognizing its violations to the norms of international law and fundamental principles.
