The Foreign Minister stated that a meeting took place at his ministry headquarters as a result of the renewed rapprochement between President Rodrigo Paz and U.S. Under Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who visited Bolivia on November 8 and 9. On the day of his swearing-in ceremony, November 8, President Paz and Under Secretary Landau announced the upcoming restoration of diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level, which until this Wednesday has remained at the rank of charge d’affaires.

Aramayo emphasized that this decision is part of the new foreign policy promoted by Paz, which aims for “Bolivia in the world and the world in Bolivia.”

Within this context, the national government announced the elimination of the visa requirement for U.S. citizens traveling to the country for tourism or business.

Regarding health, it was noted that on November 9, the United States donated $700,000 worth of medicines and diagnostic equipment to Bolivia for the treatment of patients with HIV/AIDS.

As on ambassadors, the Foreign Minister clarified that it will not happen immediately, as it requires procedures that take longer than the time that has elapsed since the new president and his government took office.

jdt/jav/oda/jpm