Moreno backs Spain against Mexico's request for pardon
The Ecuadorian president, Lenin Moreno, backed Spain on Thursday in response to Mexico's demand to apologize for the "grievances" of the conquest five hundred years ago and assured that "this type of events were common" then and what must be done. to do is to "leave the matter and work better for the future".
Moreno, who today received the Foreign Minister Josep Borrell at the Carondelet Palace, agreed with "that we must ask for forgiveness for the acts of action and omission (...) we have committed against other human beings" , but he assured that it is a "round trip mechanism" and that a "chain of great forgiveness" should be organized.
"I think we should all apologize for the omissions we have made in respect of human rights, whether voluntarily or involuntarily," but at the same time, he considered that "those kinds of events were common at that time."
"That was the way to do politics, economics, and our ancestors also did it at some time with other peoples," said the Ecuadorian president.
He reported that he was going to tell his "dear friend" Manuel López Obrador, the president of Mexico, "so that he knows our position," and asked to "leave the matter and start working better for the future."
The Ecuadorian president received Borrell shortly after a brief meeting he had with the European representative of Foreign Policy, Federica Mogherini, who had just co-chaired with Ecuador the Second Meeting of the International Contact Group for Venezuela.
After warm words to Spain, King Felipe and Queen Letizia, and greetings to "Pedro" (Sanchez, the President of the Government), the Ecuadorian leader said that both countries will study these next two days topics such as the Schengen visa , a matter of crucial importance for Quito, since Colombia and Peru enjoy this exemption for short periods.
"Spain has been fundamental to that spirit of giving Ecuador a right that has not been denied to other brothers in Latin America," he said in that regard.
The Spanish Foreign Minister said he has "committed all the interest of Spain in that the EU accepts that Ecuadorian citizens do not have to apply for a visa, as happens with Peruvians and Colombians."
"Spain will do everything possible to make it so and get an agreement within European countries that make it possible," he said.
At the meeting, Ecuador also asked Borrell for greater assistance to its security on the border with Colombia, where drug trafficking gangs operate, as well as the continuity of Spanish cooperation in social issues and reconstruction.
