Switzerland assumes protecting power mandate for Ecuador vis-à-vis Venezuela
Published: Thursday, Dec 19th 2024, 15:40
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At the request of the Ecuadorian government, Switzerland assumes the country's protecting power mandate vis-à-vis Venezuela. Switzerland is thus ensuring that the diplomatic and consular channel between the two countries remains open.
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis signed the corresponding agreement between Switzerland and Ecuador on Thursday with Ecuador's ambassador to Switzerland, Verónica Bustamante Ponce, as announced by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) on Thursday.
Tensions in diplomatic relations between Ecuador and Venezuela increased over the course of 2024. After the Venezuelan presidential elections at the end of July, diplomatic relations were broken off completely.
In future, Switzerland will represent Ecuador's diplomatic and consular interests vis-à-vis Venezuela. According to the FDFA, the diplomatic channel will be ensured with immediate effect via the Swiss embassies in Quito and Caracas. Consular tasks will be carried out by a section for the protection of Ecuadorian interests in the building of the Ecuadorian embassy in Caracas.
According to the FDFA, protecting power mandates are an instrument of Switzerland's good offices. As a protecting power, Switzerland assumes part of the diplomatic and/or consular tasks if two states break off relations in whole or in part. Thanks to the protecting power, states can maintain minimal relations.
Switzerland has a long-standing tradition of exercising protecting power mandates. The mandate for Ecuador in Venezuela complements the seven existing protecting power mandates currently exercised by Switzerland.
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