Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Mexican States

08/04/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/04/2022 22:00

The Bolivian government honors Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard

  • The decoration comes in recognition of the rescue and asylum given by the Mexican government to former President Evo Morales
  • Secretary Ebrard met with President Luis Arce and former president Evo Morales
  • The foreign secretary witnessed the launch of the Mexico-Bolivia Binational Chamber of Commerce and Investment

Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard was decorated with the Great Cross of the Legion of Honor of Marshal Andrés de Santa Cruz y Calahumana during his visit to Bolivia.

The decoration was awarded in recognition of the work of the Mexican government in providing rescue and asylum in 2019 to former President Evo Morales and the then Economy Minister and now President, Luis Arce. The award was given because these actions helped preserve democracy in Bolivia.

The Legion of Honor is the highest decoration conferred by the Bolivian government on foreign ministers, ambassadors, secretaries general and representatives of international organizations who have rendered distinguished services to the country.

The foreign secretary expressed his appreciation for the honor, saying, "It is a decoration that recognizes, mainly, the decision of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to act resolutely in a moment of crisis […] he then acted resolutely to prevent Bolivia's democratic life from being interrupted, to protect the life of Evo Morales and to ask, to set a limit and underscore that Latin America and the Caribbean do not want this type of intervention to keep occurring…It is a decoration for the people of Mexico, its government and its president," he said.

Secretary Marcelo Ebrard spoke with President Luis Arce Catacora about the future of the relationship between Mexico and Bolivia. In particular, they discussed the Bolivian strategy for achieving food and energy self-sufficiency. In addition, the foreign secretary met with former president Evo Morales, with whom he spoke about the Mexican tradition of asylum and the political situation in Latin America. The former Bolivian president said, "I never forget, and my nation will never forget, that you saved our lives." In both meetings, the officials discussed the close Mexico-Bolivia relationship and their work to achieve the goals of both countries.

Foreign Secretary Ebrard also met with Bolivian Foreign Minister Rogelio Mayta, with whom he agreed to work together on defending and promoting the unity of Latin America and the Caribbean, and on the ties between our countries. "So the voice of Latin America and the Caribbean will be heard in all international arenas," he said.

The Foreign Secretary recalled the proposal made by Mexico and Bolivia to the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) regarding the joint acquisition of medicines, "that we purchase some medicines jointly to get the best possible prices and so that the producers, the pharmaceutical companies, don't impose different conditions on each country but rather that we have the greatest possible advantage […] so that the medicines are cheap and accessible for our peoples. If we buy together, we can achieve a reduction of around 30 percent, 25 percent, in drug prices," he said.

Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard also witnessed the launch of the Mexico-Bolivia Binational Chamber of Commerce and Investment, made up of 25 companies from both countries. At the event, business executives said there is great potential to increase reciprocal investment and trade, given the complementarity of the two economies and the understanding between governments.

Subsequently, the Royal University of the Bolivian Chamber of Commerce awarded Foreign Secretary Ebrard with an honorary doctorate in recognition of his promotion and creation of an agenda for knowledge and education. In this context, the business executives and the Mexican delegation discussed investment opportunities in the road infrastructure, mining and automotive sectors, among others.

On this visit, Mexico reaffirms its commitment to a close and friendly collaboration with the people and government of Bolivia in order to benefit the citizens of both countries.