The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility of Ecuador, Gabriela Sommerfeldassured this Monday that his country will not send war material of Soviet origin to Ukraine through the United Stateswith whom he had agreed to an exchange to receive more modern US military equipment worth 200 million dollars.
In an appearance before the Transparency Commission of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Ecuador, where he was asked if the Government was still willing to send Soviet weapons to Ukraine for its war against Russia, Sommerfeld asserted that “Ecuador will not send any war material to countries that are involved in an international armed conflict”.
In her response to whether “there is indeed a decision by the national government to send war material to Ukraine or not,” the chancellor recalled that Ecuador is part of the United Nations Security Council.
“As a member, we promote conflict resolution always respecting international law and the peaceful solution to these controversies”I note.
The possibility of sending Soviet war material to the United States had caused discomfort in Vladimir Putin’s government.
“Scrap”
However, last Friday The Russian ambassador to Ecuador, Vladimir Sprinchan, was “sure” that Ecuador will not send Soviet weapons to Ukraine after a meeting with President Daniel Noboa, who weeks ago had described this material as “scrap.”
Sommerfeld pointed out that agreements relating to war material do not fall within his Ministry’s jurisdiction but rather that of the Ministry of Defense.and noted that for this reason a technical report has not been sent to the Foreign Ministry that supports the aforementioned qualification of “scrap.”
Asked if the tension with Russia over the fate of military equipment of Soviet origin is at risk or whether diplomatic commercial relations with any partner of Ecuador were affected, the chancellor was categorical in pointing out that “in no way.”
«The relations with our partners are very good, if not excellent»he stressed.
banana trade
In the midst of the situation unleashed by the military material that Ecuador was going to send to the United States, Russia announced the suspension of banana exports from five Ecuadorian companies alleging the alleged presence of the humpback fly (megaselia scalaris) in some shipments.
Last week, Russia lifted its ban on banana exports from companies whose exports had been banned.
Among these companies are Agzulasa Cia, Don Carlos Fruit SA, Agroaereo Fruit Export SA, Agricultural Production Association of El Oro (Asoproagroro) and Comercializadora de Banano.
In her appearance, the chancellor said that delegates from Ecuador and Russia maintain contacts to analyze phytosanitary matters and recalled that the Russian alert of the alleged presence of the humpback fly was given six months ago, but due to lack of response the matter was exposed this February .
«Trade with Russia is open, it never stopped, flowers, coffee, bananas continued to be sent. “The only thing there was was a sanction against five exporting farms, (which represents) less than 25% of exports to Russia.”sostuvo summer field.
First world exporter
Ecuador is the world’s leading banana exporter, with more than 6.5 million tons in 2023, according to statistics from the Association of Banana Exporters of Ecuador (AEBE).
Of that volume, Russia is the first destination country for Ecuadorian banana exports with 1.37 million tons in 2023, equivalent to 22.85% of the total.
The turnover of banana exports between January and November 2023 amounted to 3,255 million dollars, of which 690 million dollars were for shipments to Russia, which has Ecuador as practically its only external supplier of bananas, representing 98%. of its imports of this fruit. EFE
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