ECUADOR-ASSANGE/PATINO Britain denies request for Assange medical tests outside embassy - Ecuador

Record ID: 136143

  • Title: ECUADOR-ASSANGE/PATINO Britain denies request for Assange medical tests outside embassy - Ecuador
  • Date: 15th October 2015
  • Summary: QUITO, ECUADOR (OCTOBER 14, 2015) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** ECUADOR'S FOREIGN MINISTRY ECUADOR'S FOREIGN MINISTER, RICARDO PATINO, ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ECUADOR'S FOREIGN MINISTER, RICARDO PATINO, SAYING: "In the end of the text, they tell us the United Kingdom wants to find a diplomatic solution to this matter (of Assange
  • Embargoed: 30th October 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ecuador
  • Country: Ecuador
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA57AC402OPYKK8PML6HN40HQ2H
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Ecuador said on Wednesday (October 14) the British government has refused to let WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange receive medical attention outside the Andean country's London embassy where he has been holed up for over three years.
    Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said Ecuador asked Britain for a special "safe-passage" so that Assange, 44, could have a magnetic resonance imaging scan because he has suffered "deep pain" in his right shoulder for the last three months.
    In response, however, Patino said the British government sent a letter to Quito denying the request and threatening to reconsider future cooperation with the South American country.
    "In the end of the text, they tell us the United Kingdom wants to find a diplomatic solution to this matter (of Assange) while maintaining bilateral relations. And they say that nevertheless, as a result of this continued delay, 'we will review our future cooperation with the government of Ecuador'. We do not stand for threats of any kind, from any country, no matter how important they might think they are. Additionally, the quick resolution to the issue is not in our hands and never has been. So, I want to categorically and completely reject this letter from the British government," Patino told journalists during a news conference at the foreign ministry in Quito.
    Patino said that even at times of war safe-passage has been granted for humanitarian reasons.
    "We also understand the reasons they might have as a government, but of course, even in times of war, in other types of conflicts, for humanitarian reasons, safe-passage is granted. We, in this case, have requested Mr. Assange be able to undergo this medical exam. However, the answer is always the same. 'When he leaves, we will take him prisoner because we have to follow this European detention order'," he said.
    Assange, who is Australian, entered the embassy in June 2012 to avoid being extradited to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning over a rape allegation, which he denies.
    Assange says he fears Sweden will extradite him to the United States where he could be put on trial over WikiLeaks' publication of classified military and diplomatic documents five years ago, one of the largest information leaks in U.S. history.
    Ecuador in August agreed to discuss a general bilateral accord with Sweden on legal assistance in criminal matters, thereby providing a potential opening for Swedish prosecutors to question Assange.
    "Of course, in this agreement they must respect international norms of a right to asylum that we have, even though the British government does not recognise it, the Swedish government will have to recognise it. They couldn't go and make statements at the embassy if they don't recognise a right to asylum and the consequences of recognising this right. So we hope this can be agreed on as quickly as possible. We are open to doing it. I say again, it has been three years since we made the proposal," Patino added.
    Britain has accused Ecuador of preventing the course of justice by allowing Assange to remain in its embassy in the upmarket central London area of Knightsbridge.
    Britain's Foreign Office said the head of its diplomatic service had summoned the Ecuadorean ambassador on Monday to "register once again our deep frustration at the protracted delay."
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