BOLIVIA: Ban Ki Moon visits Bolivian indigenous communities ahead of G77 talks

Record ID: 565493

  • Title: BOLIVIA: Ban Ki Moon visits Bolivian indigenous communities ahead of G77 talks
  • Date: 13th June 2014
  • Summary: SANTA RITA, SANTA CRUZ, BOLIVIA (JUNE 13, 2014) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF HELICOPTER CARRYING BOLIVIAN PRESIDENT EVO MORALES AND U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL BAN KI MOON ARRIVING MILITARY ON DUTY INDIGENOUS RESIDENTS WATCHING ARRIVAL OF PLANE MORALES AND BAN ARRIVING AT TOWN OF CONCEPCION INDIGENOUS FLAG MORALES AND BAN GREETING INDIGENOUS RESIDENTS INDIGENOUS FAMILY (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL BAN KI MOON, SAYING: "There are many surrounding remote communities that need many basic services like electricity and water." VARIOUS OF INDIGENOUS RESIDENTS INDIGENOUS WOMAN PREPARING FOOD (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL BAN KI MOON, SAYING: "I'm happy to be able to meet with you all and tell government representatives in the United States that development is sustainable in all corners of the world." VARIOUS OF INDIGENOUS RESIDENTS MORALES WITH BAN (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BOLIVIAN PRESIDENT EVO MORALES, SAYING: "Before the little riches that we had, these riches were exported outside of Bolivia, very little stayed in our hands, the privatisation of our riches. Now our riches have been socialised and democratised, it's (resources) returned to the Bolivian people through public works such as this." VARIOUS OF PUBLIC WORKS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BOLIVIAN PRESIDENT EVO MORALES, SAYING: "The other way money is coming back to the people is with these public works, small projects like drinking water, telecommunications, health and education."
  • Embargoed: 28th June 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Bolivia, Plurinational State Of
  • Country: Bolivia
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA5Q6ADYQJCJNORLHU1MMHK8ODO
  • Story Text: United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon tours impoverished Andean communities in Bolivia alongside President Evo Morales ahead of the G77 + China talks in Santa Cruz.

    United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon toured impoverished indigenous communities high up in Bolivia's Andes on (June 13) alongside President Evo Morales ahead of this weekend's G77 + China Summit.
    Ban arrived at the indigenous community of Santa Rica, some 300 km from central Santa Cruz, to see for himself the social impact infrastructure projects are having on remote communities who struggle for basic services such as drinking water and electricity.
    "There are many surrounding remote communities that need many basic services like electricity and water," said the U.N. chief.
    Ban is in Bolivia for the G77 + China Summit, the largest intergovernmental organisation of developing countries in the United Nations that seeks to raise the voices of impoverished communities around the world.
    Recent G77 talks have focused on sustainable development and establishing a global mechanism to deal with losses and damage caused by climate change.
    "I'm happy to be able to meet with you all and tell government representatives in the United States that development is sustainable in all corners of the world," added Ban.
    Under leftist President Evo Morales, Bolivia has sought to eradicate extreme poverty by 2025 with a series of public works and investment in education, financed by the nationalisation of resources previously held by foreign firms.
    "Before the little riches that we had, these riches were exported outside of Bolivia, very little stayed in our hands, the privatisation of our riches. Now our riches have been socialised and democratised, it's (resources) returned to the Bolivian people through public works such as this," said Morales.
    According to government statistics, the population of Bolivians living below the poverty line has fallen from just over 60% in 1999 to just over 50% in recent years.
    "The other way money is coming back to the people is with these public works, small projects like drinking water, telecommunications, health and education," said Morales.
    Bolivia is hosting the G77 + China summit which will see a total of 27 presidents, three vice presidents and four prime ministers attend the two-day summit that is held under the theme, "For a New World Order for Living Well."
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