UN agrees to observer role in Bolivia

BOLIVIA: The United Nations agreed to be an observer in the implementation of the new Bolivian Constitution, as requested by the opposition and allowed by the government, according to local press reports.

The announcement was made by UN Information official in Bolivia Roberto Brockman after consultation with UN and UNDP representative in Bolivia, Yoriko Yasukawa.

We are ready to help political players, and we are pleased that they have agreed on requesting guarantors in the process, said Brockman on Saturday.

On Friday, President Evo Morales ratified the government's openness in implementing controversial issues in the Constitution, including autonomies and land reform.

We are not afraid. All observers will be welcomed, regardless of their origin, said Morales in a military promotion ceremony.

Morales thus replied remarks made by Santa Cruz Prefect Ruben Costas, who made talks with government conditional on the presence of observers.

He has become one of the spokespeople for the opposition that is reluctant to Morales-proposed talks.

La Paz, Sunday, Prensa Latina