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U.S. wants diplomatic solution to impasse with Ecuador

Other News Materials 13 February 2009 08:25 (UTC +04:00)

The United States believes in pursuing a diplomatic solution to the impasse with Ecuador over the expulsion of a U.S. diplomat who allegedly took sensitive information, Xinhua reported.
"This is an issue that for us must be dealt with by diplomatic channels...it is the best way," U.S. ambassador to Ecuador Heather Hodges told reporters Thursday.
Ecuadorian diplomatic ties with the U.S. were complicating on Saturday when Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa ordered the expulsion of U.S. diplomat Armando Astorga after he announced suspension of aid to Ecuador's anti-smuggling police, allegedly because the U.S. embassy was denied a say in appointments to the unit.
Later it was known that Astorga had left Quito in January as part of a normal staff rotation.
On Tuesday, Correa accused Astorga of having taken classified information from the country and announced an investigation into the matter.
While leaving Ecuador, Astorga took with him equipment, computers and information belonging to the Ecuadorian State, said Correa.
He said he was indignant with Ecuadorian policemen, who did not understand that they work for a sovereign country rather than a foreign embassy.
However, Foreign Minister Falconi said Ecuador believes its ties with the United States will not be affected by the controversy.
"We want to build a solid, stable relation where the security and drug trafficking issues are part of the bilateral agenda, but not merely so," Falconi said.

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