PRESS CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENT OF BOLIVIA

 

Bolivian President Evo Morales Aima discussed aspects of his nationalization policy at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon, and revealed ideas on starting an organic food industry in Bolivia to increase the competitiveness of his country’s agricultural sector on the international market.

To pave the way for the national control over Bolivia’s natural resources, Mr. Morales said he had spoken to members of the Bolivian business community in the United States, as well as to American business people, to assure them that their investments in that sector would be protected, even after nationalization.  The aim of his policies was not to take over foreign businesses or expel them from Bolivia, but to instil a balance in terms of who benefited from the business.  “We need partners, not owners or bosses, of our natural resources”, he said.

Coca, a major crop in Bolivia, formed another aspect of Mr. Morales’ discussion with correspondents, since part of his address to the General Assembly yesterday had focused on his country’s right to grow that product.

Asked how the decriminalization of coca was different from condoning cocaine, Mr. Morales referred to the moment when he had brandished a coca leaf during his speech to the Assembly.  “That’s why we came with our coca leaf.  The coca leaf is green; it is not white like cocaine.”  Among other things, coca was used to make tea in his country, he said, adding that he planned to meet with a group of experts tomorrow to further discuss the issue.

He also told correspondents that the Andean Council of Foreign Ministers, which included Bolivia, had met earlier today to determine ways to improve economic and trade relations with the European Union.  His said that Bolivia’s social programmes had received praise from Finland’s President at a meeting between the two countries yesterday.  Finland holds the presidency of the European Union.

He also said that a committee had been formed in Bolivia to examine the possibility of entering the organic food industry because it was one way for a country with an agricultural base to compete with developed countries, and that was ecologically sound.  “There is a big market for this”, he said.  “It also helps us preserve our environment.”

His current visit to the United Nations was Mr. Morales’ first and, in that time, he said he had met former United States Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton to discuss Bolivia’s social policies.

The President said he had a special duty towards the indigenous population in Bolivia, which, according to a recent census, stood at 62 per cent.  “If we don’t resolve economic and social problems of indigenous people, they will rebel and question economic models”, he said.  He had met with energy and transportation industries to discuss, among other things, the lowering of electricity tariffs in Bolivia.

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For information media • not an official record