OAS calls Americas to support Bolivian integrity

Caracas, Venezuela, 2 May 2008. After the meeting today of the The 34 member Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) at Washington, its Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza called regional governments to support the territorial integrity of Bolivia. This is the second OAS meeting in less that a week to discuss the Bolivian crisis and heard the findings of a mediation made by the Secretary of Political Affairs, Dante Caputo.

This time OAS member heard first hand from Bolivian Foreign Minister, David Choquehuanca that separatists were reluctant to initiate a dialogue with the Evo Morales government prior to the planned referendum on Sunday 4 May 2008.  On the other hand, OAS political representative Dante Caputo also offered a dim report on his recent visit to Bolivia; Caputo said the main problem in Bolivian was humanitarian.  During his visit to Santa Cruz, separatists only offered to keep civil order. Then OAS Secretary Isulza warned over the violent outcome of the referendum. Violence could last for a long time and divide Bolivia, Insulza added.

Sources: ABI, Globovision, YVKE, Unionradio, El Universal, OAS, Yahoo News,

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