Source: ABI

Vice-president, Alvaro García Linera will make an official visit to the United States on September 4th tthough September 6th to discuss with authorities of the United States about the cooperation that Bolivia receives through USAID and request an extension to he the "Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA)."

He will also approach other subjects of interest for the Bolivian foreign affairs like the "Cuenta del Milenio", informed State Chancellor, David Choquehuanca, who added that Vice-President Garcia Linera is taking a commercial proposal to present to government authorities of  the United States.

Bolivia's ambassador to the United States, Mr. Gustavo Guzmán, informed that Vice President Garcia Linera will also meet with democratic legislators to speak about the ATPDEA.

AID - USAID

The Vice President will explain during his visit in Washington, D.C. why President Evo Morales denounced this past week that most of the United States cooperation funds for Bolivia through USAID is handled by the U.S. embassy in La Paz in a unopened way with any type of engagement with the Bolivian State.

Ambassador Guzmán manifested that the U.S. Government and their citizens must know how and where their tax money is being used.

Presidency's Minister, Juan Ramon Quintana, criticized last Wednesday the United States cooperation to Bolivia by affirming that 70 percent of the funds destined to cooperate with Bolivia are not reported or declared by any source for which there is no knowledge of where and how that money is being used.  The Bolivian government doesn't have any type of engagement with USAID for this same matter.

The Minister added that if that aid does not adjust to Bolivian policies "the doors are open" for those who may want leave.

President Morales affirmed two days earlier to Minister Quintana's statements that "some ambassadors" arrive to Bolivia "to make politics" and are financing the opposition's proposals against a democratically elected government, which was described by him as "conspiracy".

The United States government denied those allegations two days later saying that the international cooperation funds to countries like Bolivia are not used to interfere or influence politically.