Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa on Wednesday demanded that the Organization of American States (OAS) takes a strong stand against Colombia for its raid on a rebel camp inside Ecuador. Correa spoke in Brasilia after meeting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as part of a trip through Latin American countries to win support in the dispute, which has escalated into the most serious threat to regional peace in years. “We demand the OAS takes a stand quickly,” Correa said, adding he wants the organization to quickly reaffirm the sovereignty of national territory and condemn the Colombian attack “so that this will never again be tolerated in Latin America.” Correa said the OAS, the Western Hemisphere's top diplomatic forum, also should send a committee to investigate Saturday's raid by Colombia. Brazil, the top Latin American power, and most other regional countries have condemned the raid and called on Colombia to apologize. Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, who spent the last three days trying to defuse the conflict, said he was confident the OAS would reach an agreement. “I think it is possible to find a diplomatic solution,” Amorim said. “I see progress, there is a willingness to reach an agreement.” He suggested that the U.S. government, which backed Colombia after the raid, remain on the sidelines. “The more we can keep this within the Latin American sphere, the better the chance of a solution and avoiding a polarization in the region,” he said. The dispute came after a weekend operation by Colombian troops against a Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel camp inside Ecuador. Ecuador and Venezuela have severed diplomatic relations with Colombia and moved troops toward their borders.
