BOLIVIA-USA Bolivia and the United States announce move to restore diplomatic relations

Record ID: 143849

  • Title: BOLIVIA-USA Bolivia and the United States announce move to restore diplomatic relations
  • Date: 11th August 2015
  • Summary: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (AUGUST 11, 2015) (REUTERS) CLOSE UP OF HALL IN GOVERNMENT PALACE WITH SOLDIERS GUARDING BOLIVIAN FLAG
  • Embargoed: 26th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA6LC74ZBB1BL7QT5ASY4AMSQ4F
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Bolivia and the United States announced on Tuesday (August 11) that the two countries were working to fully restore diplomatic ties that were severed in 2008.
    "We would like to accelerate the relations between the government of Bolivia and the government of the United States. A very important talk, as always, with any representative ambassador from other countries as with international bodies," said President Evo Morales following a meeting with Peter Brennan, the Charge d'Affaires from the U.S. embassy in La Paz, and Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca.
    Relations between the two countries disintegrated in 2008 when the Bolivian leader expelled Washington's ambassador, accusing the United States of conspiring with the right-wing opposition to overthrow his government, and kicked out the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
    "It is a first meeting after a long time. We resume at the request of the United States embassy via the Foreign Ministry," said Morales, currently in his third term and known for expounding fiery anti-capitalist and anti-American rhetoric.
    Brennan outlined how initial steps were being taken to restore normal relations with the South American nation.
    "We talked, as President Evo Morales said, about areas where we see mutual interests and where we can work together to improve the relation between Bolivia and the United States. And as the president mentioned, one of the advances we have made related to trade is the establishment of this embassy as a partner embassy from our trade department," he said.
    After Morales expelled U.S. ambassador Philip Goldberg in 2008, Washington responded in kind by sending back Bolivian ambassador Gustavo Guzman.
    Brennan, however, said he was optimistic about improving relations between the two countries.
    "I hope that we can advance our relations a lot in the coming year," he said.
    Diplomatic relations between Bolivia and the United States were first established in 1848.
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