Bolivia, Russia Agree On
Energy, Military, Anti-Drug Co-op
La Paz - Bolivian President Evo Morales
and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev signed agreements on
energy, defense and drugs in Moscow on Monday, the Bolivaian
government said.
The agreements were signed at the Kremlin, Russia's political and
administrative headquarters, where Medvedev called for a boost in
ties between the two countries, saying Bolivia "is a partner with
perspective."
Morales said both countries shared similar views on issues including
environmental protection, respect of nature and global security.
They signed an agreement on energy cooperation, which paved theway
for Grazprom, Russia's state-owned energy giant, to be involved in
Bolivia's natural gas industry.
A memorandum was signed between Bolivia and the company to boost the
development of the country's hydrocarbon projects. Bolivia has the
second-largest gas reserves in South America of about 1.38 trillion
cubic meters.
Another agreement signed by the two countries involved cooperation
in drug fighting, since Bolivia has become a conduit for drugs
produced in Peru and has unilaterally suspended support of the
United States on this issue.
Both sides also agreed on military cooperation. Bolivian Civil
Defense Vice Minister, Hernan Tuco, confirmed that multi-purpose
helicopters will be bought and based in Cochabamba, central Bolivia.
"We have deficiencies in aerial strength, so the government, through
the Defense Ministry, is making this important helicopter purchase,"
Tuco said.
Morales, accompanied by Hydrocarbons Minister Oscar Coca, Defense
Minister Walker San Miguel and spokesman Ivan Canelas, will leave on
Monday night for Paris, where he will meet his French counterpart
Nicolas Sarkozy.
Morales will also meet with the Bollore Group on Tuesday, a company
that has shown interest in exploiting the lithium beds in Bolivia.
Bolivia holds more than half of the world's lithium reserves, a
mineral in high demand by the automotive industry.
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