ECUADOR has said its president will not discuss the future of Julian Assange during a visit to the UK.
Lenin Moreno will speak in London today. He will also travel to the University of Edinburgh, and later will talk with businessmen interested in investing in Ecuador.
A statement made it clear the president will not address issues relating to the WikiLeaks founder, who has been living in Ecuador’s London embassy since 2012.
Assange fears being extradited to the US if he leaves the building, for questioning over the activities of WikiLeaks.
He has been granted political asylum by Ecuador’s government, but his communication was cut off three months ago when he was accused of breaching a written commitment not to issue messages that might interfere with other states.
Ecuador’s statement said: “It should be remembered that, in this international tour, the head of state and his delegation will not address issues concerning the asylum granted to Julian Assange, since its purpose is participation in the world meeting and the economic and commercial promotion of Ecuador in Spain, England and Scotland.”
Ecuador said it will continue its position of talking and “promoting understandings” on Assange’s asylum, adding there was no clear-cut short or long-term solution.
A briefing to MPs last month
from one of Assange’s legal team said the UK could resolve the impasse by providing an assurance against US extradition.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here