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Some 50,000 Venezuelans manage their visa in Ecuador, according to chancellor
Posted On 24 Aug 2018
Ecuadornews:
The Ecuadorian chancellor, José Valencia, said that some 50,000 Venezuelans immediately manage their visa in Ecuador, a country in which he estimates, there are around 200,000 citizens of that nationality.
“This moment, in Ecuador there are almost 200,000 Venezuelans who are living here, approximately 90,000 people have already residency visas in Ecuador, almost 50,000 more are managing this visa to stay and work in our country,” where they will have the same protection as Ecuadorians, he indicated.
In a meeting with the foreign press, the head of Ecuadorian diplomacy said that 80% of Venezuelans who arrive in Ecuador “do it with a passport.”
He defended the decision of Quito announced by surprise last Saturday to demand passport to Venezuelans for the need to have real and controlled records on migration.
And although many Venezuelans have passed with passports, hundreds entered Ecuador from last Saturday without this document and have advanced their way on foot or the solidarity car that moves them by sections in their transit to Peru.
Valencia indicated that Venezuelans who are in Ecuador can follow the established steps to regularize their migratory status and said that the Venezuelan government is in talks to expedite the delivery of passports in Ecuador.
“We are in contact with the Venezuelan authorities, in fact yesterday one of the Vice Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela was here” with which they discussed several issues, among them, the need for passports to be given to Venezuelans in Ecuador and Venezuela.
Valencia said it had a “positive” response to the concern about the need for the delivery of passports and said they will follow up on the issue, “we have no reason to think that it will not be implemented,” he said.
On the other hand, Ecuador is waiting for the response of representatives of several countries to their invitation to discuss, between September 17 and 18, in Quito, about the massive Venezuelan migration.
According to the foreign minister, Quito hopes that a political solution in Venezuela will allow that country to overcome its problems.
He added: “Ecuador will encourage any kind of understanding that leads to a situation of stability in Venezuela, which also has an impact on the immigration issue.”
“It is not a case of dictating a solution to Venezuela about what should or should not be done, but urging the Venezuelan authorities and all political actors to be able to fix that situation immediately for the good of their country, in the first place” for the effects it can cause to other nations, he said.
On the hearing scheduled for today to analyze the precautionary measures requested by the Ombudsman to try to stop the application for a passport, Valencia was confident that the arguments of the Government will prevail, he said, are based on the Organic Law of Human Mobility.
Although he preferred not to delve into the subject, he commented that there are further internal procedures in case of a setback in the court.
The chancellor noted that “the government is giving all the facilities of the case,” and with the support of the International Organization of Migration (IOM), for the circulation of Venezuelans.
“There is no impediment to their mobilization and their circulation in Ecuadorian territory,” he stressed, pointing out that “everyone who needs and is in a situation of vulnerability is supported.”
And he stressed that the rules and laws in Ecuador are “guarantees: when a person in need is assisted, he or she is not asked for any requirements whatsoever.”
“The person who needs to go from point A to point B can circulate freely,” stressed the head of Ecuadorian diplomacy to emphasize that within the country “there is no discrimination for any reason.”
For Valencia, Ecuador, which “has been overwhelmed in its management capacity” by the “massive and unexpected” flow of Venezuelans, is ready to respond to possible problems on the southern border if foreigners are stranded there on August 25. , Lima also requests passport to Venezuelans. (I)
