24.04.201816:36:00UTC+00UNASUR: Bolivia To Seek Consensus With Countries That Suspended Presence

Bolivia's President Evo Morales intends to open talks with his counterparts in the six countries that suspended his participation in the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) to find consensus in the election of the new Secretary General of that multilateral organization, said the official Bolivian news agency.

"We are going to talk with the presidents of the six countries that momentarily suspend their participation proposals that have to be solved, such as the appointment of Unasur's Secretary General. We will make all the efforts to reach consensus to overcome this problem," Morales said.

Last Friday, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Paraguay and Peru announced through a joint statement to Foreign Minister Fernando Huanacuni, who on behalf of Bolivia exercises Unasur's pro tempore presidency, that they would restrict their participation "until a solution was found, among other issues, for the appointment of the Secretary-General."

The Bolivian leader noted that "one thing is the voice of the presidents, and another thing is the voice of the people."