Official: Bolivia to bar
U.S. aid if it
undermines government
agenda
Bolivian Minister of the
Presidency Juan Quintana
said Wednesday that his
country would close the
door on U.S. aid if it
does not conform to the
government's agenda,
according to news
reaching here.
Speaking at a press
conference in the
Quemado Palace, seat of
the Bolivian government,
Quintana said the
Bolivian people have
called for "profound
change."
"But these changes are
being harassed and
interfered with by the
effects of the U.S.
assistance," he said.
He said that Bolivia
receives 130 million
U.S. dollars in annual
aid from the United
States, and that only 30
percent of the aid comes
to the government, the
remaining seventy
percent goes to
non-governmental
organizations.
"The government will not
continue to permit any
interference," Quintana
said, adding Bolivia
would not accept "aid
that is not transparent,
that is discretional and
that follows an
ideological line
opposing the will of the
Bolivian people."
"We are not going to
allow one more day of
such aid, which
tarnishes our democracy
and conspires against
the freedoms of our
people," Quintana said.
Quintana also said that
Bolivia does not seek to
break its relationship
with the United States,
but wants the United
States to follow
Bolivian rules and
guidelines.
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