Axis of Logic
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Latin America & Caribbean
The Cochabamba Declaration by Latin American Presidents
By Axis of Logic. UNISUR.
TechoVen. Axis of Logic
Monday, Jul 8, 2013

On July 4, 2013 the Union of South American Nations (UNISUR) assembled in an extraordinary meeting in Cochabamba, Bolivia to issue a joint statement, rejecting in the strongest terms refusal of the governments of Portugal, France, Italy and Spain to grant President Evo Morales the right to land in their countries for refueling or to pass through their air space a few days earlier.

The refusal by these 4 European countries was based on the unfounded suspicion that Edward Snowden was secretly being moved from Russia to Bolivia on Evo Morales presidential plane. Since then the countries being charged with this aggression have simply issued denials that they refused passage to Morales plane or that they didn't know he was aboard. Moreover, in spite of Washington's denials, many believe the act of air piracy was at the behest of the United States. In the Cochabamba Declaration the UNISUR presidents also demanded an explanation and public apologies from these European countries for their act of aggression that threatened the life of the Bolivian president during his return flight from an economic conference in Russia.

The following UNISUR Presidents were present and signed the Cochamamba Declaration in support of Bolivian President Morales: Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela; Cristina Fernandez, Argentina; José Pepe Mujica, Uruguay; Rafael Correa, Ecuador and Desi Boutersi, Suriname along with delegations from other South American nations. In the declaration they condemned "the actions that clearly violate norms and principles of international law, the inviolability of the heads of state" as a "flagrant violation of international treaties governing peaceful coexistence, solidarity and cooperation between our states."

The full text of Cochabamba Declaration

Given the situation that the President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Evo Morales, was subjected to by the governments of France, Portugal, Italy and Spain, we denounce before the international community and various international organizations:
  • The flagrant violation of international treaties governing peaceful coexistence, solidarity and cooperation between our states, that took place is an unusual act, unfriendly and hostile, configuring an unlawful act that affects freedom of movement and displacement of a head of state and his delegation.

  • The abuse and neocolonial practices that still exist on our planet in the XXI century.

  • The lack of transparency about the motivations of policy decisions that prevented air traffic for the Bolivian presidential vessel and its president.

  • The injury suffered by President Evo Morales, which offends not only the Bolivian people but all our nations.

  • The illegal spying practices that threaten the rights of citizens and friendly coexistence among nations.
In view of these denunciations, we are convinced that the process of building the Patria Grande (Integrated Latin America) to which we are committed must be consolidated with full respect for the sovereignty and independence of our peoples, without interference from global hegemonic powers, conquering the old practices of imposing first and second class.(status on) countries. The male and female heads of state and governments of countries of the Union of South American Nations, gathered in Cochabamba on July 4, 2013
  1. We declare that the unacceptable restriction on the freedom of President Evo Morales, making virtually him a hostage, is a rights violation of not only the Bolivian people but of all countries and peoples of Latin America and sets a dangerous precedent for existing international law.

  2. We reject the actions that clearly violate norms and principles of international law, the inviolability of the heads of state.

  3. We call on the governments of France, Portugal, Italy and Spain to explain the reasons for the decision to prevent the presidential plane from the Plurinational State of Bolivia from overflying through its airspace.

  4. Similarly, we urge the governments of France, Portugal, Italy and Spain present the corresponding public apologies for the serious incidents that occurred.

  5. We support the complaint filed by the Plurinational State of Bolivia to the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for the serious violation of human rights and specific endangerment of the life of President Evo Morales; we also support the right of the Plurinational State of Bolivia to take all actions it deems necessary to the courts and relevant agencies.

  6. We agreed to form a monitoring committee, entrusting the task to our foreign ministries to perform the actions necessary to shed light on the facts. 
Finally, in the spirit of the principles set forth in the treaty establishing UNASUR, we urge all the heads of state of the union to stand by (accompany) this declaration.

Similarly, we call on the United Nations and regional organizations that have not done so yet, to make a pronouncement on this unjustifiable and arbitrary event.

Cochabamba, July 4, 2013

Source: TechoVen (in Spanish)