Bolivian President Evo Morales says he is expelling
the U.S. Agency for International Development, accusing it of interfering in his
country's internal affairs.
Morales said Wednesday during a May Day speech in La
Paz that the United States no longer will "manipulate" the Bolivian
economy and its politics.
In 2008, he threw out the U.S. ambassador and
officials from the Drug Enforcement Agency.
State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said the
U.S. deeply regrets Wednesday's expulsions. He called allegations of political
interference in Bolivia baseless. He said those who will suffer will be
Bolivian citizens, who he said benefit from USAID's work on health, education
and the environment.
USAID has operated in Bolivia since 1964. It has
spent nearly $2 billion there over the past 50 years.
U.S. relations with Bolivia have been cool since
Morales' leftist government took power in 2006. He has nationalized several
Western-owned companies. Bolivia also is a major coca producer. The crop not
only is the key ingredient in cocaine, but also sustains indigenous farmers and
is used for non-drug related purposes.
Sources :
http://www.voanews.com/content/bolivia-expels-usaid/1652808.html
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