TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Ecuadors foreign minister, Ricardo Patio, indicated that the UK has abandoned plans to create a commission to resolve the case of Julian Assange, who has been living at the Latin American countrys embassy for 16 months.Patio and his British counterpart, William Hague, met in late June and agreed to create a bilateral commission to examine the jurisdictional conflict relating to Assange, who faces extradition by Sweden stemming from allegations of sexual assault.
Assange, who denies the allegations and has alluded to political motives spurred by critics of WikiLeaks, was granted asylum by Ecuador in August of last year, and has been living at the countrys embassy ever since, RT reported.
British authorities have in the meantime made it clear that he would face arrest should he depart the embassy, in compliance with the extradition order.
For his part, Assange has stated his belief that Swedens own order would ultimately lead to his extradition to the United States, where he fears facing harsh penalties for his involvement in disseminating thousands of confidential documents by WikiLeaks provided by whistleblower Chelsea Manning, who is currently serving a prison term of 35 years.
Regrettably, the United Kingdom has told us that it is not interested in forming [the commission], though I had been told by the minister himself (William Hague) that it was, Patio told reporters on Tuesday.
We await written confirmation to come up with other alternatives, added Patio.
In July, Ecuador reiterated its support for Julian Assanges asylum, while at the same time Patio met with Hague to establish a framework to reach a diplomatic solution.
"The Ecuadorean government maintains that the reasons for which Ecuador granted asylum are still relevant, and therefore there is going to be no change in his circumstances."
Ecuador has pressed its position that Assange should be granted safe passage off British soil, while London has maintained its legal obligation to abide by Swedens extradition order.
The UKs Foreign Office said in July that, despite a 45-minute meeting between the two ministers, no breakthrough had been reached.
By Tasnim News Agency
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