CANADA CALLS FOR CALM IN BOLIVIA
Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today issued the following statement about the political situation in Bolivia as intensified demonstrations, street protests, strikes and road blockades have brought the country to a standstill over the past week:
“Canada is very concerned about the volatile situation in Bolivia. We call on all sectors of Bolivian society to abide by the principles of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, to fully respect the constitutional process and the civil rights of Bolivian citizens, and to avoid any actions that may lead to further violence. I note the unanimously adopted Organization of American States (OAS) recommendation of June 7, 2005, which expressed the willingness of the OAS to provide any cooperation requested by Bolivia in order to facilitate dialogue and to preserve democratic institutions. We urge all citizens of Bolivia to resolve the current crisis through constitutional means and peaceful dialogue. Political stability is a prerequisite for economic growth for the benefit of all people of Bolivia.
“Measures to safeguard the security of Canadian citizens in Bolivia have been taken by our consulate in La Paz, although we have no information to indicate that Canadian citizens are in any danger. We will continue to carefully monitor the situation in the days ahead.”
The Inter-American Democratic Charter was adopted in September 2001 by the OAS to promote and defend democracy in the western hemisphere.
