Caracas, 06 Jul. AVN.- The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) demanded an explanation on behalf of European countries which committed an aggression early this week against Bolivian president Evo Morales, who was forced to reroute his official aircraft without prior notice.
In a statement released last Friday, the bloc expressed "serious concern for events occurred las July 2." CELAC expressed as well its solidarity with the Bolivian president and people.
"We set forth our condemnation to these unjustifiable events, which put at risk the safety of the Bolivian President and opposed the freedom of movement and jurisdictional immunity that every Head of State have," reads the document.
France, Portugal, Spain and Italy refused Bolivia's presidential airplane to overfly their airspace under the pretext that former CIA agent Edward Snowden would had been on board. Evo Morales, who was returning home from a gas exporting countries summit in Russia, was forced to make an emergency landing in Austria.
In the face of these events, the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) also raised its voice and agreed last Thursday to create a monitoring committee, in charge of foreign ministers of the bloc with a view to carry out the necessary measures to clear up such aggression.
Following, the complete text of the statement:
Statement
The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) conveys its serious concern for events occurred las July 2, when some European governments unexpectedly refused or withdrew, and without any consultation, overflight or landing permits to the official airplane of the President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Evo Morales Ayma, forcing him to make an emergency landing at Vienna International Airport, Austria.
We set forth our condemnation to these unjustifiable events, which put at risk the safety of the Bolivian President and opposed the freedom of movement and jurisdictional immunity that every Head of State have.
The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States conveys its solidarity with President Evo Morales and the sister people of Bolivia.
CELAC demands clarification of the events, since they represent a violation to International Law, and explanations that it may ensue.
AVN 06/07/2013 17:46
