Julian Assange to receive visit from Ecuador's foreign minister
Ricardo Patino will travel to London later this month to meet the WikiLeaks founder and has offered talks with William Hague
Julian Assange has been living inside the Ecuadorean embassy in London since 19 June last year. Photograph: Lewis Whyld/PA
Ecuador's foreign minister will travel to the UK later this month to meet Julian Assange on the eve of the WikiLeaks founder's first anniversary of living in the country's embassy in London.
Ricardo Patino has also offered to hold talks with his British counterpart, William Hague, to try to reach an agreement over Assange's future.
Assange has been inside the embassy since 19 June last year and has been granted political asylum by Ecudador. If he leaves the embassy, he will be arrested and sent to Sweden for questioning over sexual allegations made by two women, which he denies.
Assange fears that if he is sent to Sweden, he will then be extradited to the US for questioning over publication by WikiLeaks of confidential information.
An Ecuadorean government spokesman said: "On Sunday 16 June Ricardo Patino, Ecuador's foreign minister, will be visiting London in order to meet with Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy, on the eve of the first anniversary of Mr Assange in our diplomatic premises.
"The ministry of foreign affairs of Ecuador has informed UK authorities that Mr Patio will be in London and has offered to meet with foreign secretary William Hague to discuss the case of Julian Assange."
Ricardo Patino has also offered to hold talks with his British counterpart, William Hague, to try to reach an agreement over Assange's future.
Assange has been inside the embassy since 19 June last year and has been granted political asylum by Ecudador. If he leaves the embassy, he will be arrested and sent to Sweden for questioning over sexual allegations made by two women, which he denies.
Assange fears that if he is sent to Sweden, he will then be extradited to the US for questioning over publication by WikiLeaks of confidential information.
An Ecuadorean government spokesman said: "On Sunday 16 June Ricardo Patino, Ecuador's foreign minister, will be visiting London in order to meet with Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy, on the eve of the first anniversary of Mr Assange in our diplomatic premises.
"The ministry of foreign affairs of Ecuador has informed UK authorities that Mr Patio will be in London and has offered to meet with foreign secretary William Hague to discuss the case of Julian Assange."
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