Bolivia Official Quits in Dispute Over Chile
LA PAZ, Bolivia — Foreign Minister Ronald MacLean resigned Monday, saying he could not go along with President Jaime Paz Zamora’s criticism of neighboring Chile.
Paz Zamora hands over power to his elected successor and political opponent, Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, in 11 days.
MacLean told a news conference he is “rationally and emotionally” opposed to Paz Zamora’s remarks last week that Chile was “backward” and “lazy” in its policy toward Bolivia.
Diplomatic relations between the two states have been suspended since 1978 because of a renewed dispute about Bolivia’s loss of land, including its access to the Pacific Ocean, after Chile’s 1879 victory in a war with Peru and Bolivia.
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