- Title: Bolivia expels Mexican ambassador and Spanish diplomats
- Date: 30th December 2019
- Summary: LA PAZ BOLIVIA (DECEMBER 30, 2019) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** EXTERIOR OF BOLIVIAN PRESIDENTIAL PALACE FLAGS OUTSIDE PALACE BOLIVIA'S CARETAKER PRESIDENT JEANINE ANEZ ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) INTERIM PRESIDENT JEANINE ANEZ, SAYING: "The constitutional government that I preside over has decided to declare persona non-grata the Mexican ambassador to Bolivia Maria Teresa Mercado, the charge d'affaires of Spain Cristina Borreguero, the Spanish Consul Alvaro Fernandez and the group of alleged diplomats who were hooded and armed. We ask them to leave the country within 72 hours. This group of Mexican and Spanish government representatives has seriously injured the sovereignty and dignity of the people and the constitutional government of Bolivia." WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) INTERIM PRESIDENT JEANINE ANEZ, SAYING: "The democracy that Bolivians have recovered after 14 years of dictatorship will be respected. The constitutional government of Bolivia will be respected. The dignity and courage of Bolivians will be respected and valued just as we respect and value democracy in the world. From the government I head and on behalf of Bolivians, we wish to clarify that we hold the worthy peoples of Spain and Mexico in the highest esteem and respect." WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) INTERIM PRESIDENT JEANINE ANEZ, SAYING: "What we cannot tolerate is the abuse and arrogance of its rulers who are clearly trying to cover up and protect criminals who have committed crimes of sedition, armed uprising and terrorism. The Constitutional government will neither allow nor encourage any of these violent manifestations that only cause division and confrontation." ANEZ WALKING AWAY VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF EMBASSY OF SPAIN PAN OF EXTERIOR OF MEXICO'S NEW EMBASSY IN BOLIVIA POLICE OUTSIDE MEXICO'S NEW EMBASSY WORKERS ENTERING MEXICAN EMBASSY WITH SAFE WORKERS WITH SAFE EXTERIOR OF MEXICAN EMBASSY SIGN OF MEXICAN EMBASSY VARIOUS OF WORKERS LOADING BOXES FROM EMBASSY TO TRUCK ENTRANCE IN NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SPANISH AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE POLICE AT ENTRANCE OF NEIGHBORHOOD VARIOUS OF PEOPLE STANDING OUTSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SPANISH AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE
- Embargoed: 13th January 2020 16:10
- Keywords: Ambassador Maria Teresa Mercado Bolivia Evo Morales Mexico Spain expel interim President Jeanine Anez persona non grata
- Location: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
- City: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
- Country: Bolivia
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001BC62GXZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Bolivia's interim government on Monday (December 30) asked the Mexican ambassador and several Spanish officials to leave the country, raising the tension over Mexico's decision to grant asylum in its La Paz embassy to nine people including some allies of Bolivia's former socialist president, Evo Morales.
Bolivia's conservative caretaker President Jeanine Anez said Mexican ambassador Maria Teresa Mercado and a number of Spanish government officials were "persona non grata" and asked them to leave within 72 hours.
Mexico's foreign ministry said on Monday it instructed Mercado, who has worked in the foreign service since 1982, to return to Mexico to ensure her safety. It described Bolivia's move as "political in nature."
On Friday (December 27), Mexico's government said Bolivian authorities had harassed and intimidated its diplomatic staff and impeded the departure of Spanish officials visiting its embassy in the capital.
A number of allies of Morales holed up in Mexico's embassy in La Paz after the long-term leftist leader resigned under pressure last month and left the country. Some of them are wanted by Bolivia's new caretaker administration.
Anez took over by default after Morales stepped down, and has made sharp policy shifts away from his socialist government, fraying ties with leftist allies in the region.
Anez said the Bolivian government would not tolerate people "trying to cover up and protect criminals who have committed crimes of sedition, armed uprising and terrorism" and that Bolivia would not be a "colony" of any other country.
According to Bolivia's government, a former senior aide to Morales, Juan Ramon Quintana, is among nine people who have taken asylum in the Mexican embassy. Some are wanted by the government for crimes including sedition and armed revolt.
Mexico said last Thursday that it was asking the International Court of Justice to mediate the dispute.
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