The ambassador of Ecuador in Venezuela, Rene Vargas Pazzos, on Tuesday
denied being the link between Colombian rebel group the FARC and Ecuadorean
president Rafael Correa’s 2006 election campaign.
However, Vargas admitted having met with slain FARC commander ‘Raul Reyes’ in 2003. “What I told Reyes was to respect us, that we do not want to get involved in any conflict. We do not share the idea of hostages or things because this is a violation of human rights,” the ambassador told ecuadorinmediato.com.
According to Journalist Arturo Torres Vargas had links to the FARC. Vargas allegedly gave a certification of honor to Nubia Calderon who is known as the ambassador of the FARC.
Vargas denied this accusation. “I have never given any certification. I have given once, I am not sure whether it was to her [Nubia Calderon], a card. Sometimes people ask for recommendations … that is all and nothing more,” the ambassador said.
Recently, the Colombian government released a video in which FARC
commander ‘Mono Jojoy’ confirms the guerrillas financially supported the
2006 campaign of Correa. The Ecuadorean President denies having received money and claims that the
FARC paid money to false co-workers of his campaign.
Colombia and Ecuador have had strained
relations since March 2008 when Colombian armed forces attacked an
Ecuadorean camp of Raul Reyes. The relations worsened after
Colombia published the video.