Juliana Cézar Nunes
Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília – In his inaugural speech yesterday, the new president of Bolívia, Evo Morales, made a number of acknowledgements. He specifically thanked president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for "teaching and guiding me." Morales went on to say that he intended to build highways linking his country with Brazil and Peru.

Morales also called on Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela to join him in discussions on the use of natural resources, mainly petroleum and natural gas. "Do not exclude Bolivia from talks about future uses of natural resources. It is our wish that all states benefit from their use," he said.

As for trade, Morales said he believed a president had an obligation to make good business deals for his country. He said he was open to discussions on Mercosur and the Free Trade Area of the Americas. He concluded by saying that his country had goods to sell, but needed to find markets for them.

Translation: Allen Bennett