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But Correa added that Snowden’s case remains complex.
“In the face of this blackmail, we are officially telling America, don’t threaten us with the removal of preferential tariffs.
“We unilaterally and irrevocably waive them.
“You can keep them.
“In order to process the asylum application of Edward Snowden, he would have to be in an Ecuadorean embassy or on Ecuadorean territory.
“For that to happen, a country would have to allow him to enter its territory, which has not come about yet.
“Mr Snowden is in a complex situation, we don’t know how it will be resolved,” Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa said.
Correa said waiving the preferential tariffs doesn’t mean Ecuador is cutting diplomatic or economic ties with the US.
Snowden is currently at the Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow.
Russia’s presidential human rights envoy said on Friday it was not convinced Snowden deserved support and sympathy.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia hoped Snowden could leave the country early as possible.
Iceland has been mentioned as a potential destination for Snowden, but the country’s Foreign Minister said if Snowden wanted to receive asylum, he also had to be in the country to make the request. — Xinhua.
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