Ecuadorian, Colombian FMs to meet in New York

QUITO, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Ecuadoran and Colombian foreign ministers will meet in New York Tuesday, the two countries' first official meeting since they broke diplomatic ties in March 2008, the Ecuadorian government said Monday.

Ecuadoran Foreign Minister Fander Falconi and his Colombian counterpart Jaime Bermudez will meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

Before the meeting, Falconi announced both sides had the political will to face the challenge of restoring diplomatic ties.

Falconi told the press he would suggest making a "route map" with Bermudez to surpass different opinions between both governments.

"We are beginning a process which must be led in the best way, in order to achieve what our people want, which is a pacific will, brotherhood -- which have always existed between both peoples," Bermudez said.

Ecuador and Colombia severed ties in March 2008 after a Colombian army entered Ecuadorian territory during a raid against Colombian guerillas without notifying the Ecuadorian government.

Ecuador considered the raid a violation of its territorial sovereignty, which led to the diplomatic rupture.