São Paulo – Bolivian president Evo Morales announced on Wednesday (22) that his government recognises the Palestinian State. This is the third South American country to take such a decision in less than a month, after Brazil and Argentina.
According to the Bolivian Information Agency(ABI), in a press conference in La Paz, the country capital, the president said that “Bolivia cannot continue waiting and observing the territorial human rights and sovereignty problems suffered by Palestine".
Morales added that he is going to send a letter to the president of the Palestinian National Authority (ANP), Mahmoud Abbas, "recognising the sovereignty and independence of this country". The Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, did the same in late November.
The Bolivian leader pointed out that he has long "heard and been informed about the grave problems faced by Palestine regarding its neighbouring countries, like Israel". Bolivia broke relations with Israel in January last year, due to the attack of Israeli forces on Gaza Strip.
According to ABI, Morales had already said he would take the decision of recognizing Palestine during the last Mercosur Summit, which took place last week and included the participation of the minister of Economy of the Arab country, Hassan Abu-Libdeh, who signed the agreement to start negotiations for a free trade agreement with the South American bloc. Bolivia is not an effective member, but is associated to the Mercosur.
*Translated by Mark Ament
