Press Conference by President of Bolivia

 

At a Headquarters press conference today, Bolivian President Evo Morales Ayma touted his country’s newly minted ability to flourish without foreign intervention and highlighted the economic progress his country has made since regaining control of its natural energy resources from foreign interests nearly five years ago.

The head of the Plurinational State of Bolivia gave a wide-ranging discussion that touched on drug trafficking, the environment and need for a deep-rooted revolution at the United Nations to make it more democratic.  He said the Latin American nation’s recovery of its gas and petroleum reserves had let it reduce its fiscal deficit and boost its international reserves.  “ Bolivia now had economic and financial dignity,” he said.  The nationalization of resources had improved the nation’s economy, along with the lives of its citizens.  He pointed to lower school drop-out rates among youth, declines in infant mortality and extreme poverty and increased social benefits, such as a monthly payment of 200 bolivianos for workers and indigenous people whom are more than 60 years old.  “For a poor person, this is economic breathing space,” he said.

On the issue of drug trafficking, Mr. Morales said combating the movement of drugs was the responsibility of Governments and the markets that held a demand for cocaine.  He acknowledged that Bolivia had cocoa leaf production, but the Government was reducing the hectares under production.  He noted that drug traffickers had much better technology than the country’s law enforcement officials.  He added the United States Government was criticizing those Governments that had rejected capitalist economic policies.  For example, an anti-imperialist like Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was accused of terrorism, while as Bolivia’s President, he had been accused of drug trafficking.

“We’re not afraid of this any longer.  Let them cut off economic assistance,” he said, adding that his country was faring better without the intervention of foreign entities, such as the United States Department of Agriculture or the International Monetary Fund.

Turning to the topic of the environment, he noted that human beings could not live without the Earth, but the Earth could continue to exist without humankind.  The best way to defend human rights was to defend the rights of mother Earth.  Humanity could be saved by saving the planet, and he proposed a slogan of “Earth or death” in order to save the Earth for the well-being of humanity.

Responding to a reporter’s question about upcoming national elections in Venezuela on Sunday and in Brazil on 3 October, he said he did not want to become involved in the domestic issues of other countries.  But, he wanted democracy to win.  He said the anti-imperialist and anti-colonialist trends now emerging throughout Latin America were part of a heritage bequeathed by the region’s first freedom fighters, such as Simon Bolivar.

A journalist questioned how the President would ensure that a draft law, now before the Bolivian Senate, would not lead to media censorship, as it would suspend media entities that supported racist or discriminatory language.  He said only 1 to 2 per cent of journalists were racist.  “I have heard ‘We have to kill this Indian president.’  Is that acceptable language coming from the press?” he asked.  Such language was not acceptable and he said he needed to set an example for indigenous brothers and sisters with a law that would help stamp out racism and discrimination.

Responding to a reporter’s question about his calls for a reformed Security Council, Morales said he did not believe in an anti-democratic United Nations.  A deep-rooted revolution was needed at the United Nations, as some countries had permanent, eternal delegates on the Council.  “That is insecurity,” he added.  The United States ignored the Council’s decisions.  “The United Nations would only be strong when it solves the issue of poverty and brings about peace,” he said, adding that the United Nations did not need a Council that worked in the interest of the United States.

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For information media • not an official record