Ecuador is “offended” because of Colombian accusations that illegal armed groups would have several camps on Ecuadorean territory and calls on its neighbor to step up border security.
In a joint press conference by the Ecuadorean Ministers of Security, Government and Foreign Affairs, Colombia’s southern neighbor rejected Colombian claims there would be at least 63 camps of illegal armed in Ecuador.
Colombia has sent a report to the Organization of American States (OAS) about the existence of these camps.
“As a nation we feel offended tries to demonstrate something to the international community that can not be demonstrated,” Security Minister Gustavo Larrea said Wednesday.
Ecuador claims to have increased the number of security officials in the border area with 7,000 troops and calls on Colombia to do the same.
“It is Colombia that has an internal armed conflict and is home to over 15,000 illegally armed subversives. It’s Colombia that has the drug cultivation, not Ecuador,” the Security Minister added.
Colombia and it’s southern neighbour have had strain diplomatic ties since the beginning of March this year when Colombia bombed a FARC camp on Colombian territory. Several attempts to improve relations have failed.