Turkey voices concern over political unrest in Bolivia

By Sibel Morrow

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey on Monday expressed concern over the political unrest in Bolivia in the wake of the president’s stepping down.

“Turkey attaches importance to the principle that governments come into power through a democratic process,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“In this context, Turkey is deeply concerned over the developments in Bolivia that have resulted in the resignation of President Evo Morales,” it said.

The ministry voiced hope that the tension in the country is reduced, the life returns to normalcy and the democracy prevails in Bolivia in line with the choice of Bolivian people to reestablish peace, tranquility, and stability through renewed elections.

In Bolivia’s Oct. 20 presidential polls, Morales gained 47.8% of the vote, securing victory in the first round. But when the opposition claimed fraud, some parties urged supporters to take to the streets.

After the opposition called for the polls to be cancelled, Morales announced there would be new elections, but opposition supporters said they would continue protests until an election was held without him.

On Sunday, in a televised address, Bolivian Army chief Williams Kaliman called on Morales to step down.

Morales said a "coup" had been carried out against him, and he resigned to prevent the opposition leader Luis Fernando Camacho and Carlos Mesa, a former president, from issuing further instructions to their supporters to attack Bolivians.