Ecuador trusts on restoring ties with Colombia

Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said Thursday that his country "fully trusts" on restoring diplomatic ties with Colombia when Colombian President-elect Juan Manuel Santos takes office next month.

Patino said that once Santos takes office, he will meet with Colombian Foreign Minister Maria Angela Olguin to discuss "the full restoring of the diplomatic ties" between both countries.

Patino told local TV channel Telerama that there are "two reconciliation messages" sent by Santos, and one of them is the recent visits to Quito by Olguin and Vice President-elect Angelino Garzon.

Patino said that Olguin told him of the disposition of the new Colombian administration to "strengthen the ties" with Ecuador and "surpass the pending issues" between both countries.

Colombia and Ecuador began in 2009 a dialogue process to restore their diplomatic ties, which were severed in March 2008, after Colombia raided an illegal guerilla camp in Ecuadorian territory without notifying Quito about it.

So far, both countries have appointed in-charge business officers and military attaches, but not ambassadors, as there are still pending issues to be discussed.

Source: Xinhua