Highlights: Mexico to take violation of its embassy in Ecuador to the ICJ. Mexico announced its intention to seize the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the highest judicial body of the United Nations, on Monday. “We believe we can win our case quickly,” declared the head of Mexican diplomacy Alicia Bárcena. The intrusion, without recent precedent in the world, of Ecuadorian police officers into the Mexican embassy in Quito to arrest the former Ecuadorian vice-president accused of corruption, sparked a barrage of criticism.

Mexico announced its intention to seize the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the highest judicial body of the United Nations, on Monday after the police raid on its embassy in Ecuador, which...

Mexico to take violation of its embassy in Ecuador to the ICJ

Mexico announced its intention to seize the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the highest judicial body of the United Nations, on Monday after the police raid on its embassy in Ecuador, which sparked a breakdown in diplomatic relations and an international outcry.

Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Bárcena, right, speaks during a news conference at the international airport in Mexico City, Mexico, Sunday, April 7, 2024. © AP - Ginnette Riquelme

By: RFI with AFP

“

Starting tomorrow, we will go before the ICJ where we will present this sad case

,” declared the head of Mexican diplomacy Alicia Bárcena while welcoming the Mexican diplomatic staff repatriated from Ecuador. “

We believe we can win our case quickly

,” she added.

The intrusion, without recent precedent in the world, of Ecuadorian police officers into the Mexican embassy in Quito to arrest the former Ecuadorian vice-president accused of corruption, Jorge Glas, who had taken refuge there, sparked

a barrage of criticism

since Friday.

Mexican

diplomatic staff

based in Quito left Ecuador on Sunday. Along with their family members, they boarded a commercial flight in Quito after being accompanied to the airport by the German, Panamanian, Cuban and Honduran ambassadors, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Agradecida by the embajador@s of 🇩🇪,🇵🇦,🇨🇺,🇭🇳 and others. of the Ecuador-México Camera.

Our personal diploma already todo in 🇪🇨 and returns to your home with the front and the number of🇲🇽alto tras asalto a nuestra Embajada.

Gracias amigos y aliados x su solidarity. pic.twitter.com/893UgDuXzt

— Alicia Bárcena (@aliciabarcena) April 7, 2024

CELAC emergency meeting

Honduran President Xiomara Castro, who holds the temporary presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), called for an emergency meeting on Monday.

Bolivian President Luis Arce announced on Sunday that his government had recalled its ambassador to Ecuador, and summoned the Ecuadorian ambassador to Bolivia for explanations.

The raid was condemned by left-wing governments across Latin America, from Brazil to Venezuela, Chile, and even ultraliberal President Javier Milei's Argentina, as well as the Organization of American States, the European Union and Spain.

Read alsoAfter the police intrusion into its embassy in Quito, Mexico breaks off diplomatic relations with Ecuador

“

Alarmed

”, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres considered that any violation of diplomatic forums compromised “

the pursuit of normal international relations

”, according to his spokesperson.

The United States - which condemns "any violation of the Vienna Convention" - encouraged Mexico and Ecuador "

to resolve their disputes in accordance with international standards

". This 1961 convention provides that embassies and consulates “

are inviolable

”.

Jorge Glas transferred to prison

Jorge Glas was transferred to a high-security prison in Guayaquil in southwest Ecuador on Saturday, according to government sources.

Mexico granted him asylum on Friday, even though he had been a refugee since December 17 in the embassy in the Ecuadorian capital. Quito had described this decision as “

illegal

”, denouncing an “

abuse of immunities and privileges

” granted to the embassy and interference in its internal affairs.

The granting of asylum to Jorge Glas came the day after Ecuador's decision to expel the Mexican ambassador to Quito, Raquel Serur, following criticism by the Mexican president over the conduct of the presidential election. Ecuadorian of 2023.

Jorge Glas, vice-president between 2013 and 2017, under the presidency of the socialist Rafael Correa, is accused of having embezzled public funds intended for the reconstruction of coastal cities after an earthquake in 2016. He had already been sentenced in 2017 to six years in prison for corruption in a vast scandal involving Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht. He was released last November.

Mexico to take violation of its embassy in Ecuador to the ICJ

Mexico to take violation of its embassy in Ecuador to the ICJ

CELAC emergency meeting

Jorge Glas transferred to prison

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