Ecuador on Tuesday handed over to the Organization of American States (OAS) a reserved proposal to resume diplomatic relations with Colombia.

In a joint press conference with OAS delegate Victor Rico, Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Maria Isabel Salvador said that the OAS' work to overcome the diplomatic crisis is "delicate and important."

Ecuador broke off diplomatic ties with Colombia on March 3 to protest against the latter's March 1 military attack on a FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) base in Ecuadorian territory.

The attack killed some 26 rebels, including FARC's international spokesman Luis Edgar Devia, alias Raul Reyes.

The Ecuadorian government proposal was handed over to an OAS mission that concluded a two-day visit to the country's capital Quito, during which it met with government officials, former foreign ministers, ambassadors and professors.

Salvador said she would not disclose details of the talks and the Ecuadorian proposals to OAS representatives to avoid affecting the work of the mission, which will now travel to Colombia to continue its efforts.

(Xinhua News Agency April 9, 2008)