Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

Bolivia Expels Colombian Ambassador Over Petro's Interference Remarks


(MENAFN) Bolivia has formally requested Colombian Ambassador Elizabeth Garcia to conclude her diplomatic mission and depart the country, the Bolivian Foreign Ministry announced Wednesday.

The expulsion came in direct response to remarks made by Colombian President Gustavo Petro regarding Bolivia's internal unrest, with La Paz invoking its sovereign authority and citing the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations as the legal basis for the decision.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the move was intended to uphold the principles of sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, and mutual respect between nations.

The ministry was careful to stress, however, that the decision "does not constitute a rupture of diplomatic relations" with Colombia or affect the countries' historic ties of friendship and cooperation.

Speaking to Colombian media outlet Caracol, Petro defended his comments, saying his sole intention was to serve as a mediator amid Bolivia's social crisis — particularly in La Paz, where authorities have announced reinforced military and police deployments to contain a fresh wave of protests.

On Sunday, Petro had written on X that Bolivia was experiencing a "popular insurrection," and expressed his readiness to help broker a peaceful resolution to what he described as a political crisis gripping the country.

Bolivia firmly rejected those characterizations, asserting that any external commentary on its domestic situation must be delivered with diplomatic restraint and full respect for its democratic and constitutional institutions.

The Foreign Ministry underscored that Bolivia's political and social tensions must be resolved strictly within the country's own constitutional framework — through democratic, institutional, and peaceful means — and without foreign interference.

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