Havana, Dec 20 (AIN) The triumph of indigenous leader Evo Morales in the Bolivian presidential elections on Sunday had a worldwide impact according to the analysis presented on The Round Table program on Monday evening.
In one of his first statements to the media after his election, Morales spoke to the Cuban radio and TV audience live via telephone from La Paz.
"Personally I had and have lot of confidence in the people of Bolivia; it was a great surprise and I feel happy, very happy and will work for unity," he declared.
The Bolivian people, "know who I am and those dirty campaigns didn't achieve results, because the poor and marginalized could see through them," Morales emphasized.
Morales declared that the most immediate task of his Government will be recovering The country's natural resources, currently in foreign hands, and fighting against neoliberalism. He said he would have an open minded attitude towards international politics, talking with diverse governments and peoples on a wide range of topics.
The president-elect said he has already begun to organize his cabinet and that before taking office he plans to travel abroad to make contact with other leaders.
Morales thanked the people and government of Cuba for their permanent solidarity with the people of Bolivia, and also used the opportunity to reiterate his condemnation of the US economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba.
Journalist Orlando Oramas from Prensa Latina news agency noted during The Round Table that Horacio Serpa -head of the Organization of American States election observers in Bolivia-, recognized the legitimacy of Morales victory and that several Latin American presidents and ambassadors had also made similar statements..
Marina Menendez, a journalist at Juventud Rebelde newspaper, recalled the struggles against the governments that had taken place in Bolivia over the past several decades, and said that Morales victory is one of the most significant moments in Bolivia's history.
Round Table moderator, Randy Alonso read excerpts from several newspapers, news agencies, TV news programs and other media that covered Morales' victory.
Alonso also underscored that the Andean Community of Nations, the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front of El Salvador and other organizations immediately expressed their support for the Movement to Socialism that took Evo Morales to victory in the Bolivian elections.
The panelists recalled how the masses of indigenous people and miners had kept up their struggle since October 2003 when they were able to remove President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada from power, a significant defeat for the neoliberal forces and the US transnational corporations.
They also noted how Carlos Meza, who stepped into the presidency after Sanchez de Lozada, had to resign a little more than a year later under the pressure of the masses. Then, his successor Eduardo Rodriguez Veltze had to compromise, agreeing to call for early elections.
The Cuban journalists noted that neither Sanchez de Lozada, Meza or Rodriguez met the peoples' demand for the nationalization of Bolivia's natural resources, thus setting the stage for Morales' victory.
Evo Morales Victory in Bolivia Grabs Headlines
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks