State Department backs Bolivia trade
With new Bolivian President Evo Morales claiming the U.S. is engaged in a 'conspiracy' to undermine his populist government, a U.S. State Department spokesman said Wednesday that U.S. officials are actively working to promote a continued trade partnership with Bolivia, the Associated Press reports.
Morales, who will be visiting the United Nations Sunday in his first official visit to the U.S., made the conspiracy charge Tuesday during a visit to Guatemala. However, Bolivian Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera is holding discussions on trade and prevention of narcotics trafficking in Washington this week, State Department spokesman Kurtis Cooper noted.