President Drnovšek attends the inauguration of the new president of Bolivia

Ljubljana, 01/21/2006 | press release

Slovenian president Dr Janez Drnovšek today attended celebrations to mark the inauguration of Evo Morales, the first indigenous president of Bolivia. President Drnovšek was the only foreign statesman to be invited, and he attended a full programme of inauguration celebrations. The traditional Indian ceremony took place at the ruins of the ancient city of Tiwanaku, 4,000 metres above sea level, and was also attended by representatives of all the peoples of South America, including representatives of Native Americans from the United States, who brought symbolic gifts. All of them emphasised in their addresses that Morales was the president of all the indigenous peoples of Latin America. The event was seen as a sign of hope that a new era was beginning for the indigenous population – a period of progress, emancipation and greater justice in the division of natural wealth.

In the evening, President Drnovšek attended a farewell reception for the outgoing president of Bolivia, Eduardo Rodriguez Veltze, in La Paz.