Honduras is recalling its top diplomat in Ecuador, the Central American country’s foreign minister said Tuesday, in the latest action taken in response to Ecuador’s shocking break-in this month at the Mexican embassy in Quito.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Enrique Reina, said that the Honduran affairs manager, Clarivel Vallecillo, stationed at the embassy, will return to Tegucigalpa for consultations, emphasizing that Honduras supports Mexico’s recent complaint against Ecuador before the UN International Court of Justice.
The April 5 raid on the Mexican embassy to arrest former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas triggered a sharp breakdown in relations between Mexico City and Quito, as well as a wave of condemnation for the Ecuadorian government’s decision to force his entry into the premises.
Glas, twice convicted of corruption and now facing new charges, had sought refuge in the embassy since late last year.
The government of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has maintained that Mexican authorities illegally granted Glas protection in their embassy.
Late last week, a court in Ecuador ruled that Glas’ dramatic arrest was illegal, but added that he must remain in prison because of his previous convictions. Glas’ lawyer vowed to appeal the decision.
