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Juanes Pushes to Improve Colombian-Ecuadorian Relations
December 18, 2009
by AQ OnlineThe Colombian rock star Juanes and Ecuadorian musician Juan Fernando Velasco symbolically exchanged their countries’ flags on Thursday on the Rumichaca Bridge, one of many border crossings between their countries. Antonio Navarro, the governor of Colombia’s Nariño province was among the 500 people who attended the ceremony, which is part of a bilateral effort to reestablish diplomatic relations. Official diplomatic ties between the two neighbors were suspended in March 2008 after an unauthorized incursion by the Colombian Army into Ecuadorian territory.
Juanes and Velasco stated jointly that the broad ties between their countries should overshadow any diplomatic disagreements between Bogotá and Quito. Juanes, who in November was awarded the 2009 National Prize for Peace, has long been recognized for his work on behalf of victims of armed conflict. His initiatives also include efforts to boost mutual understanding between nations through music, as was the case in Havana earlier this year.
Yesterday’s ceremony was part of the first World March for Peace and Nonviolence organized by the international activist organization World Without Wars. The march started on October 2 in New Zealand and will cross through 90 countries before reaching Punta de Vacas in Aconcagua, Argentina on January 2, 2010. Supporters of the march include various heads of government in the region including President Michelle Bachelet of Chile and President Óscar Arias of Costa Rica.
Tags: Colombia-Ecuador Diplomatic Relations, Juan Fernando Velasco, Juanes, Peace and Nonviolence, World March
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Colombia and Ecuador Take Important Step Toward Resuming Full Diplomatic Relations
November 13, 2009
by AQ OnlineThe foreign ministries of Colombia and Ecuador officially named charges d’affaires at their respective embassies in Quito and Bogotá today. Ecuador appointed Andrés Terán, current ambassador to Uruguay, and Colombia appointed Ricardo Montenegro, current Director of the Office for Territorial Sovereignty and Frontier Development, to serve in the diplomatic posts.
The announcement establishes the highest-level diplomatic ties between the two countries since President Rafael Correa suspended relations in March 2008. That decision came as response to a Colombian military operation that had entered Ecuadorian territory in pursuit of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas.
Foreign Ministers Jaime Bermúdez of Colombia and Fander Falconí of Ecuador have worked steadily in recent months to improve bilateral relations, following statements in September by President Correa that he was ready to nurture a thaw in bilateral relations. The announcement fulfills pledges made by both governments on November 3 that the mutual appointments would occur within 15 days.
Tags: Colombia, Colombia-Ecuador Diplomatic Relations, Ecuador, FARC, Trade Ecuador Colombia
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