Weekly Report - 06 August 2009 (WR-09-31)

BOLIVIA | Iran. Iran's top diplomat in Bolivia, Masoud Edrisi told reporters that Iran had approved a US$280m low-interest loan for the government of President Evo Morales to use “as it sees fit". The move, which has reportedly attracted criticism from Iranian legislators who claim the decision was made without the Majlis's [parliament's] approval, is the latest sign of the growing Iranian presence both in Bolivia and the region. Iran established diplomatic ties with Bolivia in late 2007, which was followed by a visit by Iran's President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Bolivia last year [WR-08-15].
Countering Iran's influence in the region was the reason why Israel's foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, recently conducted a 10-day visit to Latin America - the first by an Israeli foreign minister for 20 years. Lieberman's mini tour, which took in Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Colombia, concluded on 30 July. He did not get what he had sought: unequivocal condemnation of Iran's nuclear programme. “Iran claims that it is developing nuclear power for peaceful purposes and until there is proof to the contrary, we have no problem with it," Brazil's President Lula da Silva said.