Morales Goes to OAS for Sea Access
Bolivian President Evo Morales called on the Organization of American States Thursday, to deal with his nation´s demand for a sea outlet to the Pacific, and called on the Chilean government to listen to the people.

The president made the demands in a mass commemoration of the Day of the Sea, at which participated many social organizations, which he asked to join the rest of the country to achieve this objective.

Morales directed his comments specifically to OAS general secretary Chilean Miguel Angel Insulza, whom he invited to come to La Paz to discuss this as soon as possible.

Besides requesting an emergency meeting of the OAS, the Bolivian president also asked the United Nations, the Catholic Church, the European Union and other international instances, such as Cuba, Venezuela and Argentina who have favored a way out, to participate in seeking a peaceful solution to the problem.

He called on the international community "to help repair a historic injury," not given by the Chilean people, but by the English empire in order to access the natural resources of the country; using as examples of such solutions, the restitution of the Canal to Panama and of Hong Kong to China.

Saying that it was time for people-to-people resolution of problems, Morales highlighted the mass demonstrations in Chile favoring Bolivian sea access, and called on Chilean Socialist Party activists to act in memory of the late President Salvador Allende, who favored resolving this old dispute that dates from the Chilean conquest of Bolivian coasts in 1879.

Evo Morales said he was optimistic about a solution, with the unity of Bolivians and the support of the Chilean people and organizations, as well as the international community, saying, "with respect, humility and patience, sooner or later we will have the Pacific returned to us, because that is justice."