- The Court confirmed that Ecuador has the obligation to guarantee the full protection and security of the Mexican embassy, its property and archives.
- The trial continues. In the next stages, the ICJ will hear arguments on the merits of the case, i.e., on the extent of Ecuador's violations of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
On April 11, Mexico filed a lawsuit against Ecuador at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) following the violent raid carried out by the Ecuadorian police on the Mexican embassy and the aggression against its diplomatic personnel on April 5.
Today, the ICJ reiterated the importance of the principles enshrined in the Vienna Convention, and stressed that "there is no more fundamental prerequisite for the conduct of relations between States than the inviolability of diplomatic envoys and embassies [...] in particular, the institution of diplomacy [...] for enabling States, irrespective of their differing constitutional and social systems, to achieve mutual understanding and to resolve their differences by peaceful means."
Since Ecuador offered Mexico assurances, both in writing and during the public hearings, to provide full protection and security to our diplomatic premises, property and archives in Quito, as requested by our country, the ICJ determined that the assurances offered, unconditionally and repeatedly, are legally binding.
Therefore, Ecuador is obligated to concede to Mexico:
- Full protection and security of the premises, property and archives of the Mexican diplomatic mission in Quito to prevent any form of intrusion.
- Allow Mexico to clear the premises of its diplomatic mission and the private residences of its diplomatic agents.
- Refrain from any action that is likely to aggravate or widen the dispute before the Court and, instead, pursue the peaceful settlement of disputes.
The Court's decision at this stage represents progress in protecting Mexico's interests, because it recognizes the inviolability of diplomatic premises as one of the fundamental principles of international law for the proper conduct of relations between States.
In addition, Mexico's request for provisional measures obliged Ecuador to commit to the ICJ to provide assurances that it would protect the premises of the Mexican mission. If Mexico had not requested the provisional measures, Ecuador would not have made this commitment to the ICJ.
Legal Advisor Alejandro Celorio Alcántara said, "Although Mexico was not granted the provisional measures it requested from the Court, it did receive what it was seeking, which is recognition that the inviolability of a diplomatic mission is absolute, there are no exceptions, and Ecuador's commitment that it will not enter Mexico's mission there."
The trial continues. In the next stages, the ICJ will hear arguments on the merits of the case, i.e., on the scope of Ecuador's violations of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Today, the ICJ reaffirmed the fundamental importance of the principles enshrined in the Convention.
On behalf of Mexico, the Foreign Ministry will continue to defend the case and promote the peaceful resolution of disputes as part of its ongoing commitment to international law.