Bolivia's Morales blasts Chile on slow demining process, Insulza resignation

Record ID: 75247

  • Title: Bolivia's Morales blasts Chile on slow demining process, Insulza resignation
  • Date: 2nd December 2016
  • Summary: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (DECEMBER 2, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF GOVERNMENT PALACE EXTERIOR (SOUNDBITE) BOLIVIA'S PRESIDENT, EVO MORALES, SAYING: "The firm, firm position of the multinational state is the subject of demining. I am very sorry that Chile has not fulfilled its commitments to the United Nations. Our Defence Minister had to travel there, but for reasons of responsibility in Bolivia, travel specialists went to request to establish a position on the issue of demining and Chile should be held responsible, not only with Bolivia but also the international community in fulfilling its commitments and complying with the corresponding treaties." BOLIVIA FLAG (SOUNDBITE) BOLIVIA'S PRESIDENT, EVO MORALES, SAYING: "About the new agent in Chile, I think there have already been three or four agents, that is an internal right of Chile. What we can ask is why those changes? I know as president, if you have to change a minister because something is wrong. I can understand those permanent changes in Chile that are not good and some authority said something about having to be prepared to receive the verdict from The Hague, surely there are due changes." REPORTER AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) BOLIVIA'S PRESIDENT, EVO MORALES, SAYING: "What the presidents of UNASUR or CELAC must decide - are they with the empire or with the people? That is our ideological difference, although we respect them because they are elected democratically. Again contact with Brazil, improving some commitments with Argentina. With Chile there is a great difference. That we can speak of a socialist communist party in government but clearly with neoliberal policies and they can continue to govern with the Constitution of Pinochet. If communist socialist classes are in the government in Chile, then I would say, whether it's right or left in Chile, it's like the Democrats and Republicans in United States. There are not differences. After the elections, they don't govern. The entrepreneurs and bankers govern with ideological and problematic differences. Here, while Evo is president with the social movements, we are going to defend the principles of the workers, settlers and indigenous." GENERAL VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 17th December 2016 16:40
  • Keywords: demining Chile Bolivia Hague Insulza Morales
  • Location: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
  • City: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
  • Country: Bolivia
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015B70BB7
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Bolivia's President Evo Morales on Friday (December 2) lashed out at Chile on several issues, including accusing his neighbour of failing to remove land mines in the established timeframes along the border with Bolivia.
    Local media reported that in May, Chile had destroyed 72 percent of its land mines, while keeping with its commitments as a signatory to the Ottawa Treaty, which provides for the destruction by 2020 of all land mines along the country's northern and southern borders.
    During the escalation of tensions, during the early years of Gen. Augusto Pinochet's 1973-1990 dictatorship, Chile placed land mines along its borders with Peru, Argentina and Bolivia.
    "The firm, firm position of the multinational state is the subject of demining. I am very sorry that Chile has not fulfilled its commitments to the United Nations. Our Defence Minister had to travel there, but for reasons of responsibility in Bolivia, travel specialists went to request to establish a position on the issue of demining and Chile should be held responsible, not only with Bolivia but also the international community in fulfilling its commitments and complying with the corresponding treaties," Morales said.
    Local media reported that in June of this year, Bolivia questioned the "slow" progress in this process. Bolivia's Defence Minister Reymi Ferreira said that only a quarter of the target had been reached and demanded a serious commitment to complete that task within the agreed deadlines.
    Chile has denied any delays in the process.
    Morales also said Jose Miguel Insulza's resignation as Chile's agent for Bolivia's maritime claim before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, shows little seriousness within the government of the neighbouring country in shared subjects.
    Recently, Insulza resigned to this position. He was succeeded Claudio Grossman, who was a co-agent and participated in the process from the beginning. He was appointed by Chile's Foreign Minister, Heraldo Munoz.
    "About the new agent in Chile, I think there have already been three or four agents, that is an internal right of Chile. What we can ask is why those changes? I know as president, if you have to change a minister because something is wrong. I can understand those permanent changes in Chile that are not good and some authority said something about having to be prepared to receive the verdict from The Hague, surely there are due changes."
    After announcing his retirement, Insulza said he was sure the international court would rule in Chile's favour with regards to the maritime issue.
    Chile and Bolivia have long had thorny relations, starting with a war in the 19th century that left Bolivia landlocked. In recent years, the two nations have confronted each other in the U.N.'s highest court in The Hague, among other multilateral tribunals, with Bolivia demanding that Chile grant it coastal territory.
    Morales also referred to the topic of the replacement of ambassadors between the United States and Bolivia.
    "What the presidents of UNASUR or CELAC must decide - are they with the empire or with the people? That is our ideological difference, although we respect them because they are elected democratically. Again contact with Brazil, improving some commitments with Argentina. With Chile there is a great difference. That we can speak of a socialist communist party in government but clearly with neoliberal policies and they can continue to govern with the Constitution of Pinochet. If communist socialist classes are in the government in Chile, then I would say, whether it's right or left in Chile, it's like the Democrats and Republicans in United States. There are not differences. After the elections, they don't govern. The entrepreneurs and bankers govern with ideological and problematic differences. Here, while Evo is president with the social movements, we are going to defend the principles of the workers, settlers and indigenous." Morales said.
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