Ulpianus

This time is another country’s turn, the issue here seems to be the position of Ecuador in a conflict in which the country is not a part of, acting as a third party, declaring itself neutral and in favor of a peaceful resolution but establishing “strategic alliances” with one of the parties, strategic alliances that include military activity, that in my book it’s called “partialism”. Fact is the Peruvian Senate approved a law on maritime domain that cuestions the sovereignty that Chile has on the Pacific Ocean. The issue has been taken to diplomatic stages with no solution whatsoever being found in the process.

My country has expressed its opinion on the subject suggesting indirectly that Chile has a lawful right to claim what corresponds to them, this reaction, as Ecuador being the only country of the so-called “South American Community” that has expressed such a direct opinion, is totally understandable if one could look back approximately 11 years ago when Peru claimed territories from Ecuador that didn´t correspond to them and took armed actions against the country threating to invade Ecuadorian airspace and engaging in a full throttle fire battle on the border of the countries, international dispute resolution methods were suggested by the country but no approval from the inspecting countries was given, it was even suggested that the vatican serve as an arbitrator, but “curiously” Perú didn’t want to go to arbitration. Instead poor negotiating skills showed by the representatives of our country at the negotiations turned the disastrous and ended the rounds with a pretty bad deal for Ecuador that had to give up land that was rich in resources and handed over to Perú.

I’m sure that Chile wants to learn from its brother country and not make the same mistakes that Ecuador did, hence the “strategic alliance” between the countries, while debatable, I think the position of Ecuador it’s not the right one as to be taking sides in a dispute between two countries of the same community, it could endanger future relations with Perú or even bring up ghosts from the pasts and Ecuador will end up with an enemy over a dispute in which the country wasn´t a party of. Careful steps should be taken if we are to take part in this negotiating process as a “neutral third party” although it seems to be we could become an “adherent party” to the controversy if matters slip out of hands.

Author: Ekuador