Bolivia chose ties with Iran despite US pressure: Morales

Iran’s Spanish-language news channel Hispan TV has conducted an exclusive interview with Bolivian President Evo Morales, who visited the Islamic Republic to attend the third summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in the capital Tehran on November 23.

What follows is the translation of the interview.

Hispan TV: Today we have a special guest in our studio. He has been one of the leading advocates of peace, justice and equality in the world. We are honored to have Bolivia’s President Evo Morales in Hispan TV.

Good day and thank you so much for accepting our invitation.

Morales: Thank you for inviting me. I am so content to be in Tehran at the invitation of Iranian President (Hassan Rouhani).

Hispan TV: Thank you. Mr. Morales you took part in the third summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF). Thank you for coming to Hispan TV before your departure. Before starting the interview, I would like to ask about the signficance of Iran to Bolivia.

Morales: During my first term in office, there were numerous obstacles in the way of establishing mutual relations with Iran because some conservative factions in my country were hampering the establishment of such bilateral ties. They maintained that such relations would be dangerous. This dates back to 2008-2009.

Our first meeting (with Iranian officials) was held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York behind closed doors and without the presence of reporters. But I did not understand the reason as I had just took office. I finally met with Iran’s previous President (Mahmoud Ahmadinejad), we talked and things turned out to be different from what we had imagined. It was decided that I would travel to Iran and he would visit Bolivia in an attempt to break the taboo of conservatism, which is part of North America’s doctrine. When I was elected president, the American envoy along with a group of Congressmen came to meet me and said I could not establish diplomatic relations with Cuba, Venezuela and Iran.

Hispan TV: What was your response?

Morales: I said Bolivia seeks to forge diplomatic ties with all the countries around the world. No one could dictate to us which countries we can have relations with. It is interesting to see that the US has resumed its diplomatic relations with Cuba and reached an agreement with Iran (over Tehran’s nuclear program). This means that they followed my footsteps instead of it being the other way around. Only Venezuela remains for the US to restore its ties with. 

Hispan TV: Why didn’t they want Iran-Bolivia relations?

Morales: They did not provide us with a reason, but it obliviously was due to different political stances and ideological differences. Well, they do not favor the existence of countries with anti-imperialistic and anti-capitalist positions. I responded that we are entitled (to have ties with any country) and nobody can force us into having or cutting ties with any given nation. We won this fight.

From then on, Iran has been a source of trust and hope to Bolivia, and we are aware of the country’s progress in the area of technology. Bolivia’s political and economic situation has improved after it was freed from the yoke of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund and regained political independence from the US. Consequently, it is necessary to continue on this path and protect our political and economic independence and turn to countries we trust such as Iran. I am really proud to be in Iran, with whose president I had launch and held talks. This is a great honor for me and the Bolivian nation.

Hispan TV: You attended the GECF summit? What were your objectives? Why did you take part in the forum?

Morales: We have become a permanent member of the GECF ever since attending its second summit in Russia. As a small gas-exporting country in the South American region that is working to expand and industrialize this sector, Bolivia considers it extremely important to attract investments and cooperate with the countries interested in investing in this area.

After the nationalization of Bolivia’s oil industry, different countries provided us with services in this sphere, a move that altered the country’s economic situation; therefore, it is important for us to be a member of such a big organization. We offered to host the fourth edition of the GECF summit in 2017, which was accepted. We will be proud to host senior officials of the countries such as Iran, Russia and others, and this, in turn, will help Bolivia.

Hispan TV: You have come to this summit with new ideas. Couldn’t gas be a solution to non-dependence on oil and its price as well as liberation from imperialist policies?

Morales: All exporting and producing countries at the gas summit have indirectly and automatically rid themselves of the policies imposed by the United States. Secondly, the gas price cannot be dependent on oil, although South American has a different point of view due to the energy crisis. Of course this has a solution. It should also be mentioned that gas does less damage to the environment and creates less pollution compared to other natural energy resources, and the gas technology can boost sustainable development until 2030, that was put forward in a plan by the United Nations.

Hispan TV: Do you have a special plan or a special project for solving this issue?

Morales: Our experience in Bolivia shows that some of the neighboring countries offer us a high gas price due to the energy crisis. Maybe in the future, because of an urgent need, gas price becomes regional but currently the situation is like this. For Bolivia, the most important thing is to convert gas to energy and sell energy because it is more affordable this way and it will have its guaranteed market. Some companies and countries that provide service to us in this area have a similar tendency because they will have a guaranteed market. We are looking into it. Last week, when we negotiated with some of the companies such as Repsol and Total over this issue, they were surprised to learn that this way they can have a guaranteed internal market without being dependent on global oil prices.

South American countries are grappling with an energy crisis and Bolivia will become South America’s [main] energy [provider] and we are trying to make it happen. We are working on water power and other fields even on pure energy such as wind and solar energy to boost our exports.

When I became president, the domestic needs was 700 megawatts, meaning that 60 percent had electricity, and now we are talking about 80 percent and the domestic needs has increased to 1,300 megawatts. We already produce 1,500 to 1,600 megawatts and we store about 300, enabling us to export the overproduction.

Hispan TV: What were your other achievements in the Tehran summit?

Morales: We had three bilateral meetings with presidents of other countries; I met with Turkmenistan’s president and was surprised by the country’s progress in the area of technology. We are resolved to deepen our diplomatic relations with them; we have already agreed to cooperate on the transfer of technology.

I discussed energy ties with the president of Russia, as a leading anti-imperialism power in the world. Gazprom is slated to begin its activities in Bolivia soon, and Russia will also assist us in other areas. We are determined to establish a nuclear energy research center for peaceful purposes.

Hispan TV: Have they leveled accusations against your civilian nuclear projects, like those of Iran?

Morales: They wanted to do so but we defended this plan. We want to have a research reactor there, and I asked Mr. Putin for the reactor to be the biggest one in South America. We will cover its expenses ourselves, at the moment we can fully afford it. This will be done with the cooperation of Rosatom Company, which is government-owned.Other issues were also discussed. I had a meeting with Iran’s president.

Hispan TV: What did you and President Rouhani talk about?

Morales: Fist of all it was an honor for me to have a working lunch with Iran’s president. He told me to come to Iran whenever I had time. After the first meeting we had in New York, US, trust was built between the two sides. During the term of Iran’s previous president, five centers of dairy industry were established in Bolivia on a small scale and now the country’s dairy industry has been developed and we want it to make more progress, and he said whenever Bolivia deems necessary, Iranian technicians will go there to provide service and help promote this sector. Trade and energy exchanges were also discussed. It should be said that Iran’s water power sector is admirable. We also exchanged views on cooperation in the field of health.

But besides these agreements, I want to talk about a specific issue. You know that Chile and Bolivia have disagreements at the international lever over access to the Pacific Ocean. To inform the world, I want to inform the world via this media oulet that Bolivia had access to the Pacific Ocean in 1825, and had 400 kilometers of coast there, but an act of aggression started on February 14 in 1879 and ended a month later on March 24 the same year. It should be said it was not a war but a full-scale act aggression. They somewhat emerged winners, and it ended with a treaty. 

Chile’s government put forward a number of suggestions on Bolivia’s right to access the Pacific Ocean. During different sessions, the Organization of American States finally came up with a decision on the issue and Chilean officials confirmed it, but the [plan] was never put into action, prompting us to take the case to the International Court of Justice at The Hague, which ruled that it had jurisdiction over the issue.

Turkmenistan’s president said it supports Bolivia’s right. Russia also recognized our right and said it would hold talks with Chile over the issue. President Rouhani also lent us Iran’s support. Here is the text of his comments:

Regarding Bolivia’s request to have free access to the sea, the two presidents expressed hope that the issue would be peacefully resolved via negotiations between Bolivia and Chile. 

I owe a special thanks to the Iranian president for backing Bolivia’s right. It is important for the dispute to be settled through talks and the International Court of Justice at The Hague. I should also mention that we do not seek a win-lose solution; we want a win-win one that is in the interest of both sides.

Hispan TV: Why does Chile refuse to recognize this right contrary to what other presidents have done?

Morales: You should ask it from Chile. We have interactions with the entire world, and it is unfortunate that Chile is now isolated. We took the case to the International Court of Justice to be resolved this September and the court said Bolivia was born with the sea. Out of the court’s 16 judges 14 said the court has jurisdiction over the dispute and two others added they would determine whether the cour has jurisdiction after perusing the petition. It means that all the 16 accepted to consider Bolivia’s petition.

Hispan TV: I know what I am saying is not on your mind at all, but if Chile refuses, is there a probability of a military conflict?

Morales: We believe the time of war, conflict and aggression is over and it is time for solidarity and rapprochement.

Hispan TV: Well if Chile refuses, how will you react?

Morales: We trust The Hague. It is an organization founded by humans and the United Nations. So its resolutions are respected and should be implemented.

Hispan TV: But Chile says it will not recognize the resolution?

Morales: It is not about Chile. Social movements are with us. Intellectuals are with us and always there are conservative groups.

Hispan TV: You came to Iran at a sensitive time. A few days ago Europe was shocked because of the Paris terrorist attacks. I would like to know that as the president of a Latin American country, how you see terrorism.

Morales: Bolivia became a multi-national country according to recent changes in the constitution. We have independence and we are against war and conflict. We are a peaceful country therefore we support neither military interventions nor terrorist attacks and terrorism is unacceptable to us. We strongly condemn these acts. It contradicts our origin and indigenous culture. Our ancestors had solidarity with each other and thought about helping rather than hurting each other.   

Hispan TV: In your opinion, why does terrorism exist? Why do such incidents happen?

Morales: I know there is only one in charge and that is the capitalist system. They still think like previous century, when they had domination and whenever some Western governments faced economic problems, they saw military intervention as the solution. They use NATO and even Blue Hats. Libya is an example of it. Look what situation it has.

Hispan TV: France says it wanted to bring peace to this country.

Morales: Which peace? Yesterday one of the presidents of Libya’s neighboring countries told me that three governments are functioning in Libya.  Oil companies decreased the price of oil to 15 dollars each barrel. Health and education are in a deteriorating situation. The country’s infrastructure has been ruined and different groups are fighting each other. This is what North America’s imperialist wants – to destroy us and to have no rivals.

Hispan TV: Is it carried out through terrorism?  

Morales: They found terrorism to work as their ally in order to destroy anti-imperialist governments. Of course in some cases there are some blowbacks. They finance the terrorists in order to destroy the anti-imperialist governments and presidents. Therefore terrorism, the origin of which can be found in the United States, seeks to inflict a blow on human life as we witnessed in France. I say countries are capable of solving their internal problems and there is no need for foreign intervention as North America does. For example [consider] the price of oil; when some Western countries or the capitalist system faces economic problems, they transfer their problems to developing countries through affecting the price of natural resources.

Hispan TV: As you see the defenseless people are paying the price of these policies like those people in France who went to listen to the music but never returned home. What would you with your peaceful spirit say to terrorists? A terrorist may hear what you are saying now. What would you tell him if he was in front of you?

Morales: These conditions are the result of US-led foreign intervention, and they harm defenseless people. We believe that countries can solve their own problems and this is democracy.  Revolutions are not formed by ending the lives of individuals but by equality, solidarity and struggle. But some people use a different way and harm humans, therefore it is important to know how to solve the problems and prevent military intervention.

Hispan TV: In Bolivia, just like other Latin American countries, we are witnessing violence and drug trafficking and even some Bolivian people are suffering from violence.  What is your policy to solve these problems?

Morales: Our country has highly taken part in combating drug trafficking and according to the United Nations’ statistics we have had a decline in drug cultivation in up to 20,000 hectares of land. Also we have had improvements in nationalizing anti-drug combat and we have done it without America’s presence and military bases, and without America we have done a better job than before. However, some countries in the region have done worse than before even with the presence of [US] military bases. In America’s view, combating drug trafficking is more of a geopolitical nature.

Hispan TV: By the same token I would like to know if America spies on you.

Morales: I think yes. I hope the problems of the second summit will not be repeated. In the second summit they took us hostage in the air.  We had to have a stop at Lisbon but they told us in the air that we did not have the permission to land. We asked where we should go, neither France nor Spain did give the permission and closed our way and we said let’s go back to Russia which probably we would be without fuel and we would crash down and finally Austria rescued us and gave us the permission to land.

Hispan TV: Do you think America’s security system is to blame?

Morales: Look how Americans responded. They said I was taking Edward Snowden with me. My question is America’s strong intelligence system which might even be here now did not know I was not taking Snowden? This is completely false. Or maybe it has been their intelligence system’s shortfall. I say Evo Morales’ problem is that he is an indigenous president and anti-imperialist. If Cristina or Brazil’s president Dilma had taken Snowden in their airplane, they would never have prevented them but because Evo Morales is an indigenous Bolivian, they take him hostage.

Hispan TV: Why there is racial discrimination against indigenous people?

Morales: Racism is the legacy of colonialism. This case is different. They do not want an anti-imperialist leader. They wanted a leader from syndicates who is pro-imperialism.

Hispan TV: I am a Mexican which is an important country in Latin America. Why has Mexico been so away from Latin America’s Bolivarianism? Why President Pena Nieto does not have the courage to say no to Washington’s policies?

Morales: Remember when the Free Trade Agreement was signed. Before that Mexico participated in many ceremonies, meetings and even indigenous ceremonies and even Mexican omelet was very famous and everyone ate it but after the signing we said we are not eating Mexican omelet anymore but we are eating American omelet. I do not think this matter is limited to Pena Nieto. The problem is systemic and ideological. At the moment we have a big group named ‘Selak’ which is moving to help freedom of these Latin American countries. The day almost all presidents become anti-imperialist, Latin America and the Caribbean will see themselves free of America’s imperialism.

Hispan TV: You have suffered a lot because you have always been under pressure. Has there been any moment in your political life which you have cried and said you cannot continue anymore?

Morales: When I was in the syndicate, every week one person was killed in Cochabamba region. One day, three villagers were killed and all of us cried but our will and determination strengthened. We all condemned that crime but we said, ‘One day our country will become free’ because America was conducting all the attacks and was ordering the police to kill the people. Our struggle was not because of Coca leaf or indigenous people. It was because of Bolivia’s economic and political independence and freedom and it was achieved thanks to people’s unity and insight.

Hispan TV: If your mother was here, what would you tell her? Would you apologize to her because sometimes you have been stubborn? What would you say?

Morales: I would definitely thank her because she gave me the chance to live and to serve the Bolivian people. I wish my parents were here and accompanied me. But unfortunately my mother died of disease and my father died when he was very young. My mother was 30 years old when she married my father who was 15 years old. My father cried out of joy and said when your mother was young she was kind and beautiful and now has become an old woman. I always remember this sentence from my father.

Hispan TV: What did you tell him?

Morales: Nothing. I only said thank you for giving me a chance to live with all problems and hardships but now I am serving the people and my effort is really to serve the Bolivian people not because of power and remaining in politics.

Hispan TV: Well we are gradually reaching the end of the interview. As you know there are a lot of young people who are getting married in Latin America. Many of them are trying to improve and we know they are the ones who build the future. You should agree with the fact that the values of the youth in the family has changed and this has caused problems. What is your message to the youth in the region?

Morales: We respect their opinions but we should see how much they give importance to the principles and values of our ancestors? And that how much solidarity is between them?

Hispan TV: Thank you for the time you have allocated to us. If it is possible, leave a token sentence for Hispan TV and its viewers.

Morales: I thank your channel for this interview and send my special greetings to the viewers of this channel from Tehran, Iran. This channel is a media for freedom of nations and we have the prophecy of rescuing the nations and we should all respect all so that everything goes on well.

Hispan TV: Thank you. I will use your presence here to help us broadcast Hispan TV across Bolivia because at the moment it can only be accessed via internet.

Morales: God willing this network will soon be broadcast across Bolivia. 

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk