ANDEAN COMMUNITY ISSUES STATEMENT SUPPORTING

UNCLAS LIMA 002571

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR WHA/AND

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PE BL
SUBJECT: ANDEAN COMMUNITY ISSUES STATEMENT SUPPORTING
BOLIVIA

Sensitive But Unclassified, Please Handle Accordingly


1. (U) Acting in his capacity as President of the Andean
Community Council, Foreign Minister Manuel Rodriguez issued
a statement on 6/7 expressing support for constitutional
norms and democratic institutions in Bolivia. Embassy's
informal translation of the statement follows:

(begin text)

ANDEAN COMMUNITY COMMUNIQUE REGARDING THE POLITICAL
SITUATION IN BOLIVIA

The Governments of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela,
members of the Andean Community, express their profound
concern regarding the political situation in the sister
Republic of Bolivia. Likewise, they wish to extend to
President Carlos Mesa words of support and solidarity for
his decision, one that was arrived at in hopes of reaching a
democratic and constitutional solution in Bolivia, as well
as contributing to the preservation of its democratic
institutions.

The Andean Community member states wish to make an appeal to
all political forces in Bolivia so that the handling of
President Mesa's resignation is carried out with total
respect for the constitutional norms of the country and for
existing commitments regarding the protection and
preservation of democratic institutions in all countries in
the region.

Finally, the Andean Community member states wish to convey
to the Government of Bolivia their complete willingness to
contribute to the stability and preservation of the
constitutional and democratic institutions of the country.

MANUEL RODRIGUEZ CUADROS
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru
President of the Andean Community Council of Foreign
Ministers

(end of text)


2. (SBU) COMMENT. Generally speaking, the GOP prefers to
sign on to group declarations regarding the internal
political situation in neighboring countries, as opposed to
making unilateral declarations.

STRUBLE