By Roy Lie Atjam
The Hague, 26 January 2024, the Ambassador of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, H.E. Mr Roberto Calzadilla Sarmiento, celebrated the National Day of Bolivia with a modern performance “Memory & Belonging” by the artist Pablo Alanes, who put on a dazzling performance in a live video projection with sound ambience, a resemblance of the powerful inner energy that pups up during the Bolivian Carnaval. The following dances were performed: Diablada, Morenada, Caporal, and Llamerada, to name a few.
The Plurinational State of Bolivia Ambassador, Roberto Calzadilla Sarmiento gave an elaborate explanation of what the name Plurinational State of Bolivia signifies. An extract of his welcome remarks and explanation follows.
“ I thank you for your presence and it is a great honor and privilege for me to share with you here in the Hague our commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the Plurinational State of Bolivia.
Bolivia became independent in 1825 and is only 2 years away from its Bicentenary in 2025.
The new Political Constitution of the Plurinational State of Bolivia was approved 15 years ago with more than 61% support from the Bolivian people, in a historic referendum held on January 25, 2009, which marks the beginning of a new path based on plurality, inclusion and respect for our diversity. We cannot take back even one step all that we have advanced thanks to the struggle of our peoples and our social organizations.
Every 22nd January we celebrate this new phase that constitutes the date of re-foundation of our State; a Plurinational State; that seeks deepening democracy, capable of solving the problems of the and that takes into account the new rights and values our nations and the expansion of political rights.
The new constitution recognizes all 36 indigenous nations with theirs cultures, languages and rights, bringing us all together with our similarities and differences. Diversity and Plurinationality is our identity today and our sense of belonging within a great and diverse society, organized around our nation and our ancestral communities.
During this last 15 years a Democratic and Cultural Revolution process of change of the old colonial and signorial State, is developing. The economic and social asymmetries produced by the neoliberal model, led to popular and social struggle for a more inclusive State and society without hierarchies and real democracy.
The bases for a new horizon and a new organization of the State have been laid; one of Social Unity and plurality of Law; a free, independent, sovereign, democratic, intercultural, and decentralized State with autonomies, founded on political, economic, legal, cultural and linguistic pluralism.
With a model aimed at improving the quality of life and Living Well for all Bolivians, articulating state, private, social, cooperative, and community economic organizations to ensure comprehensive development through the equitable redistribution of economic surpluses in social, health and education policies, and in reinvestments in productive economic development.
The State took over the leading role in our economy, controlling and redistributing the economic surplus that was once externalized. We regained sovereignty of our strategic natural resources which were nationalized.
As of today, despite an adverse international setting we have recorded a positive growth of 3.5% for 2022 and 2.21 in 2023. Nominal GDP increased to 44,315 Millon. Public investment 4,274US Millon. Reduction of social asymmetries is part of our policy and extreme poverty went from 14% in 2020 to 11% in 2021 Despite unprecedented international crisis affecting the entire world, Bolivia has one of the lowest inflation rate in the region, with a percentage of 3.6% recorded
Our national exports, among others, natural gas, silver, zinc, lead, tin, gold, quinoa, soybeans, lithium carbonate and potassium chloride sales reached almost 13 billion dollars, attaining record levels.
We are also focusing our efforts to strengthen new industries for the generation and process of our raw materials. Bolivian Lithium State Company Bolivia has started industrializing its 23 mill tones of Lithium reserves. And recently YLB signed various agreements for the construction of two lithium carbonate plants, with Direct Extraction technology with an investment of more than 3 billion dollars. We are open also for new investments in the sector.
Today, our Plurinational State of Bolivia turns 15 years, and we joyfully celebrate working irreversibly towards a fairer country, free of racism and a more equitable and inclusive society. We are strengthening the culture of life, dialogue, pluralism, peace and social justice.
We are witnessing war, war complicity, barbaric events, death and terrible human tragedy, international crimes, genocide, devastations, racism therefore the Bolivian State is condemning this breaches of international security and peace that is affecting us in our conscience of humankind.
This is why the Plurinational State of Bolivia together with South Africa, Bangladesh, Comoros and Djibouti presented a referral the International Criminal Court for investigations and fight against impunity in Palestine.
We appreciate the historic action taken by South Africa in bringing an action against the State of Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding Israel’s violations of its obligations under the Genocide Convention towards the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Bolivia, committed to peace and justice and a signatory to the Genocide Convention, has appreciated and recognized that South Africa has taken an historic leadership in defense of the Palestinian people, a contribution to the international community clamoring for respect for the lives of the Palestinian people. We would have liked that the ICJ issued today a ceasefire decision in Gaza, but an important step and message has been given.
We considers the use of dialogue and negotiations in the framework of international Law and we condemn war, and war of aggression as a mean of resolving differences that affect peace and stability.
We are aware that our plurinationality is our greatest wealth and strength we are confident in the search for common good, the path of stability peace and hope.
With these sentiments we see this time as an opportunity to rethink the way we relate to each other, that marks our relationships that we are trying to build, based on values of cooperation, complementarity and reciprocity moving forward towards the Living Well of all. Jallala.”
The celebratory party was well-attended, and a Bolivian string trio provided the music and entertainment for the guests, who danced to Bolivian tunes.
