MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Morales pro business and investment but cautions US

Playing at both ends, Bolivian elected president Evo Morales was hailed by his political enemies when he promised to sponsor regional autonomies, but close aides also cautioned that his administration would not accept any United States aid if it's conditioned to fighting drugs.

During a meeting in Santa Cruz with political and business leaders from the Santa Cruz Civic Committee, who during the election had declared him political enemy number One, Evo Morales said he would call an autonomy referendum, amend the Constitution, go ahead with a massive iron-steel project, respect contracts and investments and rule with transparency.

"We must recognize that Santa Cruz has been the leading voice to create the autonomies conscience", said Mr. Morales who was applauded by an audience originally cold and hostile.

"He talked more than we expected: he talked about creating jobs, rule of the law, attracting investments, which is what we have been demanding and he promised us", said Gabriel Dabdoub, president of Santa Cruz all powerful Industry and Commerce Chamber.

Santa Cruz is the most dynamic region of Bolivia very much pro business and has always stood radically against the message of the leader of the coca planting peasants' movement, Evo Morales, who with street protests and road blockades forced the ousting of two presidents since 2003.

"I don't want to harm anybody: no expropriations, no confiscation of assets. I want to learn from entrepreneurs. I do not have the professional schooling or formation but we can complement, you with your professional capacity and me with social conscience", underlined Morales.

However the pro business, pro investment message also included a strong warning for Washington.

A close aide of Morales and the security expert of his political party Juan Ramon Quintana said a the incoming administration would not accept any conditioned economic or military aid and will try to disengage the Bolivian Armed Forces from the drugs and coca planting eradication programs.

"The Special Force for combating Drugs has become an appendix of the United Stated DEA with the enormous risk this implies for the security of Bolivia", said Mr. Quintana, adding that "all organizations and institutions must return to full government control".

Next January 13, Mr. Morales is scheduled to meet in Brasilia with president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to address a bilateral agenda.

"The Brazilian government would like to encourage an alliance government in Bolivia, moderate, with no abrupt rupture of contracts", said in Brasilia Marco Aurelio Garcia, President Lula's main advisor in international relations.