WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says he is ready to spend another five years at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, Ecuador's foreign minister said, after it was announced that Ecuadorian and British legal experts would try to resolve the issue.
Despite news of new legal talks, neither the UK nor Ecuador show signs of backing down. The British Foreign Office announced that "no significant progress" had been made in the talks, while Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Ricardo Patinjo stated that Assange's situation was "totally unfair", writes the Guardian.
Patinho announced that both his government and Assange are ready for a long-term "waiting game".
Assange came to the embassy last June to avoid extradition to Sweden for alleged sexual assault and rape, which he denies. Ecuador has granted him political asylum, while British authorities say he will be arrested as soon as he leaves the embassy.
Patinho hopes to find a solution to the problem through legal means, but insists that his government will not abandon Assange, reports Klix.
"Our government will not hand over Assange to the British or any other government. We will continue to emphasize that he has the right to asylum. For us, this is more a matter of principle than patience. Of course, for strong principles you must have enough patience. We hope that he will not grow old and die in our embassy," Patinjo said and added that Assange will not be "smuggled" out of the country and that he will resolve everything through legal means.
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