Bolivia Denies Expulsion
of USAID Revenge Tactic
The Bolivian government
denied Thursday that
Bolivian coca growers'
decision to expel the
U.S. Agency for
International
Development (USAID) is a
revenge tactic, news
reaching here said.
The coca growers in
Chapare Province of
Bolivia's Cochabamba
province said Wednesday
they will expel USAID
from Bolivian territory.
Bolivian Foreign
Minister David
Choquehuanca told the
press that USAID is not
the first institution
that were asked to leave
the country and there is
no need to worry about.
"I haven't got precise
information on the work
USAID is performing in
Chapare. It is said they
were helping groups that
are against the changing
process, but that will
be clarified later,"
Choquehuanca said.
He said this is an
independent decision
made by the coca growers
and it does not
represent the foreign
policy of the Bolivian
government.
"The coca growing
companions have their
reasons for taking the
action. There is no need
for too much worry. This
is not a serious issue
that could affect the
ties between the U.S.
and Bolivia,"
Choquehuanca said.
He admitted, however,
that these kind of
incidents "don't help
constructive ties" with
the U.S.
Choquehuanca said many
other agreements singed
with the U.S. will be
implemented to the end
despite the coca
growers' decision.
More than 85 million
U.S. dollars were
channeled into Bolivia
in 2007 through USAID
programs which began
providing aid from the
U.S. government in 1960.
It has programs in 31
cities of Cochabamba,
encouraging the growing
of banana, palmetto,
pineapple and papaya,
alternatives to coca,
which is the principal
ingredient for cocaine.
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