Bolivian FM David Choquehuanca (Abrebrecha.net)
Representatives from the U.S. and Bolivian governments met yesterday for the second time this year in an attempt to mend fences and possibly restore diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero led the U.S. delegation, which hosted Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca and his Bolivian delegation.
The meeting appeared to go well, but the representatives did not agree to redeploy ambassadors to each other’s capitals.
“We are close to reaching an agreement. We have established that we will keep working to reach a new framework agreement that will allow us to establish a constructive relationship,” Choquehuanca said. He also said he was “optimistic” about the chances of success of talks, which were to continue in the second half of November in La Paz.
Diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Bolivia ended in September 2008, with the expulsions of the U.S. ambassador in La Paz, Philip Goldberg, and Bolivian ambassador in Washington, Gustavo Guzman. Bolivian President Evo Morales expelled Goldberg for allegedly supporting his opposition.
The U.S. has strongly opposed Bolivia’s legal coca market, claiming it contributes to the region’s thriving cocaine trade. Morales is a big supporter of legal coca and the cocaleros who grow it, and made the issue one of the biggest platforms of his presidential campaign. The Bolivian government also recently expelled the last remaining DEA agents in Bolivia.
Morales has been trying to expand the legal coca market in Bolivia. Only last year did he acknowledge that sizeable amounts of coca are being grown illegally, and that the cocaine trade in his country is growing.
Bolivia’s economic ties to Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba and Morales’ personal ties to Hugo Chávez and the Castro brothers have also been sticking points in diplomatic relations with the U.S.
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Comments
The sticking point was and is that Morales is a narco thug and has always been picking a fight with the US.
He is a self porclaimed enemy of the US.
If "narco-thug" means a coca farmer, or coca-growers' union leader you might have a point; but we both know that isn't true, don't we?
And 'thug'--I'm sure you have evidence of his thuggery, too?
As far as being a self-proclaimed enemy of the US, you must have the quote to back that up, don't you?
Do you think that perhaps it might have something to do with the efforts our government has made and is likely still making to create a coup in Bolivia to overthrow him like we have so many other socialist leaders?
Nahhh,,,it's much easier to demonize and call him a 'narco-thug' with nothing to back it up.
Nice propaganda job, buddy!
How about providing some proof to back up your allegations?
As far as being a self proclaimed enemy of the US, my son brought home a nation-wide newspaper in January of 2006 - the month after Evo's election. The quote on the front of the paper attributed to Evo was "I will be America's worst nightmare". This was his first month in office and well before any alleged coups. The fact - as published by the UN (not just the US) is that illegal coca production and cocaine production in Bolivia have Both INCREASED under Evo. Who benefits from this? Evo and his union. Hmmmm. That's undisputable. The alleged coup perpetrated by the US is not proven. Now who is the propagandist???
Hey locojohnny-boy, You have the nerve to ask for proof of Evo's dope connections and thuggery? You must have never followed what Evo was up to before he was a president! And by the way, where is YOUR proof of a USA coup creation? You have no idea what you're talking about so shut your pie-hole. If you happen to be in the USA right now, and worst if you're an American Citizen (God forbid), put your money where your ungreatful and ignorant mouth is grab a plane ride and a go rot in Cuba or Iran.
I'm not denying he was a coca farmer and coca union leader.
The claim I disputed was that he was a thug, and requested proof of that spurious claim. The answer was bombast and distractions.
I suggest this be taken in the context of our nation's interactions with not just Bolivia, but many other nations of the Americas as well.
Is it all proven? Obviously, not--nor will it ever be. Our empire is a bi-partisan venture. The Church Committee findings gave us just a glimpse of what is done in our name around the world--from the control of nations' leaders through bribery/intimidation/corruption/coups/assassinations/engineering elections etc.
Want another peek? Read John Perkins' book entitled "Economic Hit Man". Or search and sift through thousands of urls.
After awhile, it doesn't take a genius to see the picture, and recognize that we didn't become an empire with what is it--770 installations on other peoples' soil--by being a mind-our-own-business-democracy.
Empire.
U
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