MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Bush and Morales to try a new beginning

United States President George W Bush telephoned Bolivia's new president, Evo Morales on Wednesday and expressed hope for a dialogue with the Indian leader who during his campaign called his socialist party a “nightmare” for the United States.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Bush congratulated Morales on his election, praised the democratic process in Bolivia and said he wanted ''a constructive US-Bolivian relationship and dialogue".

During the call president Morales described his "social and economic agenda to change Bolivia".

Despite Morales' anti-American rhetoric during his campaign and his friendliness toward US antagonists Venezuela and Cuba, the Bush administration has sought to avoid a clash with him and is taking a wait-and-see approach.

Morales, a former coca leaf farmer who opposes US antinarcotics and trade policies, has toned down his rhetoric since winning office in December. He was inaugurated on January 22.

US diplomats have described their meetings with Morales as good and are coordinating with South American neighbours Brazil and Argentina to try to moderate his policies, especially his pledges to roll back some anti-drug programs.

The United States has avoided threatening Morales. It has also made clear to him that future US aid to one of Latin America's poorest countries will depend on how well he fights a narcotics trade that helps supply cocaine to American cities, according to US diplomats.

Last year the US awarded Bolivia 90 million US dollars to fight the narcotics trade and only a few days ago the anti-narcotics delegate in the La Paz US Embassy William Francisco said that the problem "is not with coke, but with cocaine".

This strangely enough coincides with the Morales administration's approach to the problem.

Another positive sign was that President Bush sent to president Morales inauguration ceremony Thomas Shannon, Under State Secretary for Hemispheric Affairs and an academic expert in Latinamerican politics.

During the call, Bush told Morales the United States was committed to ''helping the Bolivian people realize their aspirations for a better life'' McClellan said.

Such calls from Bush to incoming leaders are customary, but he often telephones very close allies with congratulations within a day or two after an election.

Alex Contreras, spokesperson for the Bolivian president confirmed the Bush call and described the exchange as "adjusted to protocol" and with "no specific issues addressed".