Bolivian President Evo Morales says he wants to restore ties with the United States after the Obama administration achieved closer relations with Cuba and Iran, Agence France-Presse reports.
Morales, a leftist leader aligned with a regional bloc of authoritarian governments including Cuba and Venezuela, said at a briefing that he wants "to get back on course to good relations with the United States." U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Havana on Friday to witness the reopening of the U.S. embassy there for the first time in more than 50 years.
AFP reports:
The United States and Bolivia have not had ambassadors in their respective capitals since 2008.
Morales threw out the last U.S. ambassador in 2008 accusing him of allegedly plotting with local conservative opposition seeking to oust him. The United States reciprocated. […]
In December, U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro made a surprise announcement to seek normal diplomatic relations after a more than 50-year break in relations. Kerry is due in Havana for a ceremony to raise the U.S. flag at its reopened embassy, a first since January 1961.
"Before the United States used to tell us not to have relations with Cuba and Iran. Now, the United States has good relations with Cuba and with Iran, a surprise (deal)," said Morales.
Morales won re-election to a third term last year after a disputed court ruling allowed him to exceed the constitutional limit to two terms. According to Freedom House, Bolivia still suffers from "allegations that prosecutions against members of the [political] opposition are politically motivated," corruption, and a "hostile environment" for journalists who write pieces critical of the government.