Ecuador began suing neighboring Colombia Monday at the International Court of Justice, demanding an end to Colombian herbicide spraying, which is alleged to have affected the health of Ecuadorians as well as their animals and crops.
Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Maria Isabel Salvador told reporters that the diplomatic process had ended without any solution because of Colombia's intransigence over the issue.
"The Ecuadorian government has made all efforts in good faith for more than seven years to resolve this dispute via diplomatic means, but Colombia has systematically rejected Ecuador's protests and requests," Salvador said.
A diplomat, four leading ministry officials, four international lawyers and an Ecuadorian lawyer will argue at The Hague court that Ecuadorian rights should be respected as Colombia has kept spraying in the border region, sometimes even on the Ecuadorian side.
Salvador said Ecuador has proof that the spraying affects Ecuadorians' health and livelihood, and said Colombia also violates Ecuador's sovereignty and basic principals of international law.
Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa said since he took power, he has been ready to go to international courts such as The Hague, to put an end to this illegal action, the foreign minister said.
"Ecuador is within its rights to sue Colombia under the framework of the Bogota Pact, an Americas treaty on peaceful solutions, signed by both nations," she added.
Source:Xinhua
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