Peru withdrew its ambassador to Bolivia Thursday in protest at Bolivian President Evo Morales' remarks against his Peruvian counterpart Alan Garcia.
"Obviously, I have recalled our ambassador to Bolivia," Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose Garcia Belaunde told a local radio program.
Morales accused this week some members of the Andean Community of Nations (CAN), alluding to Peru, of ignoring the unity of the bloc by negotiating unilateral free trade agreements with the United States.
He also said he has seen President Garcia overweight, but "not very anti-imperialist."
The foreign minister said the excessive comments made by the Bolivian president made it difficult for Peru to maintain a friendly diplomatic relationship with Bolivia, adding that President Morales should not interfere with Peru's internal affairs.
Garcia Belaunde said that beyond the unfortunate remarks, he is concerned by the main arguments of Morales to oppose the association agreements signed by the countries, saying these include public services and water privatization.
"Perhaps he might not have had enough time to read the FTA between Peru and the United States or any other FTA, and he has believed in a lie that someone else told him," added Garcia Belaunde.
The CAN, founded in May 1969, is a trade bloc now comprising the South American countries of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
Venezuela announced its withdrawal from the bloc in 2006 after Colombia and Peru signed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with the United States.
Source:Xinhua
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