MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

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". The resolution also referred to Colombia's "clear apology" for its incursion. It also reiterated the commitment of all countries to tackle "the threat to security arising from irregular groups or criminal organizations, in particular those connected to drug trafficking". Ecuador's foreign minister, Maria Isabel Salvador, said it was a "clear victory" for her country's stance and form Quito president Rafael Correa said he considered the incident "was over" because all of "Ecuador's aspirations had been met in the resolution" and advanced that the ground was ready for the reestablishment of diplomatic relations with Colombia. Colombia was also satisfied with the final resolution. "We achieved our aim of getting co-operation in the fight against criminals, insurgents and terrorists," said Colombian Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo. The Colombian government has said it regrets conducting the cross-border raid but that it was necessary "in the fight against terrorism". The meeting of Latinamerica and Caribbean 34 Foreign Affairs ministers began on Monday but was only able to reach an agreement early Tuesday. Ecuador's original demand of "condemnation" of Colombia was downgraded to "rejection" of the sovereignty violation. The most significant articles of the brief resolution from the consultation meeting of the OAS Foreign Affairs ministers which helped find a way out to the most serious regional diplomatic conflict in years follow: "To reaffirm the full applicability of the principles enshrined in international law of respect for sovereignty, abstention from the threat or use of force, and noninterference in the internal affairs of other states, which are embodied in Article 19 of the Charter and are founding principles of the inter-American systemâ€"principles that are binding on all its member states in all circumstances". "To reaffirm the full applicability of the principle of territorial sovereignty enshrined unrestrictedly and without any exception in Article 21 of the OAS Charter, as a vital principle for harmonious relations among the nations of the Americas". "To reject the incursion by Colombian military forces and police personnel into the territory of Ecuador, in the Province of Sucumbíos, on March 1, 2008, carried out without the knowledge or prior consent of the Government of Ecuador, since it was a clear violation of Articles 19 and 21 of the OAS Charter". "To take note of the full apology for the events that occurred and the pledge by Colombia, expressed by its President to the Rio Group and reiterated by its delegation at this Meeting of Consultation, that they would not be repeated under any circumstances". "To reiterate the firm commitment of all member states to combat threats to security caused by the actions of irregular groups or criminal organizations, especially those associated with drug trafficking".