Mexico accuses Ecuador at UN court of crossing line over incursion on its embassy in Quito

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - Mexico accused Ecuador on Tuesday of crossing lines that should not be crossed when Ecuador encroached on the Mexican Embassy in Quito earlier this month.

At the first hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hauge, Mexico’s representative Alejandro Celorio argued that Ecuador violated one of the cornerstones that govern relations between sovereign states.

Maintaining that Mexico is severely worried about Ecuador’s incursion, including the safety of people who were on the premises, he said, “It clearly showed Ecuador's lack of respect for universally accepted fundamental norms which have existed for a long time.”

“We have not been given credible guarantees to avoid new infractions nor has Ecuador fully recognized its obligation not to enter the premises of Mexico,” added Celorio.

The invasion by Ecuadorian police into the embassy on April 5 to arrest former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas, to whom Mexico granted political asylum, unleashed a political crisis that escalated to the breaking of diplomatic relations.

Mexico filed a complaint before the ICJ on April 11 that demanded Ecuador be expelled from the UN, pending an apology for the incident.

Mexico severed diplomatic ties with Ecuador, recalling embassy staff from the country. The embassy incident has been condemned by most countries in the region, some of which have said they joined Mexico's lawsuit.

In response, Ecuador sued Mexico at the ICJ for granting asylum to Glas, who is wanted by the Ecuadorian justice system in relation to several criminal proceedings and investigations.