Colombian foreign Minister Fernando Araujo said Tuesday that his country will ask the Organization of American States (OAS) to mediate in the fresh diplomatic crisis that has arisen with Ecuador. “Our intention is to reestablish relations with Ecuador as soon as possible,” said Araujo.Ecuadorian Foreign Minister, Maria Isabel Salvador, said resumed relations depend on the signals it receives from the Colombian Government, which, she said, have so far been “unreliable”.”We are talking about restoring the confidence level (…) and with events like this (the death of a citizen in their territory by foreign forces) we ask again ‘Are we really ready to restore relations?” She told journalists.Venezuelan exports to Colombia remain frozen despite efforts to normalize strained diplomatic relations between the countries and far more friendly words by Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez, export officials said.Officials with the Venezuelan Exporters’ Association said the Venezuelan government has not allowed the resumption of exports to Colombia despite the return of Colombian imports to Venezuela, El Universal reported Tuesday.Relations between the three South American nations were strained this month when Colombian forces entered Ecuador without permission to kill leftist Colombian rebel commander Raúl Reyes and more than two dozen members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
