Minister Hugo Swire meets Foreign Minister for Ecuador
Minister for the Americas, the Rt Hon. Hugo Swire MP, met the new Ecuadorean Foreign Minister, Guillaume Long, in London on 20 June.
The Ministers discussed the latest situation following the earthquake that struck in April where the UK had been pleased to be able to offer assistance, including engineering expertise, in the aftermath.
Mr Swire also underlined the UK’s desire to improve the relationship between the two countries, with opportunities to develop higher education, reconstruction and security cooperation.
The two Ministers had a lengthy discussion about Julian Assange’s case and Mr Swire, once again, raised UK frustration at the lack of progress in the case.
Following the meeting Hugo Swire said:
Four years after voluntarily entering the Ecuadorean Embassy, Julian Assange remains there, with a European Arrest Warrant in connection with a serious sexual offence allegation still outstanding. We continue to be deeply frustrated by the lack of progress in this case. I personally expressed to Foreign Minister Long my sincere hope that Ecuador will soon facilitate the Swedish Prosecutor’s request to interview Mr Assange in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London. It is important that this case is finally brought to a close.