Ecuador has so far granted refugee status to some 23,000 Colombians, Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Fander Falconi said Wednesday.

"With this, Ecuador proves to the world that it has a responsible policy on refugees," Falconi said after meeting with Marta Juarez, the representative from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Falconi said the government of Ecuador respects the Humanitarian International Law and will promote its practice.

The fact that Ecuador has offered some 23,000 Colombians refugee status makes Ecuador a leader on the issue in the Americas, said Falconi.

But it does not mean Ecuador would grant the status indiscriminately. Those who do not meet the requirements of refugee status could not receive the status, added Falconi,

Falconi explained that the granting of the status was based on "the presumption that anyone who comes does it for reasons of personal security and survival."

The UNCHR statistics showed that there were no abuses or distortions in the process of granting refugee status in Ecuador, Falconi said.

Ecuador is the country with the biggest number of Colombian refugees in the western hemisphere, with some 135,000 Colombians living on Ecuadorian territory.

In 2008, Ecuador received 12,853 refugee applications.