21 Sep 2011

UN / MORALES PRESSER

Bolivian President Evo Morales offered a press conference today on the sidelines of this week’s General Debate at the United Nations (UN) and defended the legal consumption of coca leaf in his country, which is in contravention of the UN Convention on Narcotic Drugs. UNTV

Posted at: September 21, 2011 1:52 pm

Duration: 01:46

Available in: SD

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STORY: UN / EVO MORALES
TRT: 1.46
SOURCE: UNTV 
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: SPANISH/ NATS

DATELINE: 21 SEPTEMBER 2011, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1.Zoom out, exterior United Nations headquarters

21 SEPTEMBER 2011, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Morales at the dais
3.Wide shot, audience
4. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Evo Morales, President of Bolivia:
"How is it possible that the consumption of coca leaf could be banned under a Convention, when coca leaf does not harm human health? That is why we appeal to the United Nations to recognize the legal consumption of coca leaf which does not mean to reject the whole Convention. We do need national and international regulations to combat drug trafficking, but we can not ignore the legal uses of the coca leaf."	
5. Med shot, journalists
6. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Evo Morales, President of Bolivia:
"Who is going to own Libyan oil now? Will it still belong to Libyans? In Iraq, do oil and hydrocarbons belong to Iraqis now? Then, capitalism and imperialism's new strategy is now oriented towards creating internal conflicts in countries where the government is anti-imperialist and anti-capitalist."
7. Med shot, reporters
8. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Evo Morales, President of Bolivia:
"We of course have bad relations with Israel. We would like to have a good relationship, but as long as they keep their position of supporting an economic blockade or abusing the Palestinians, it is impossible to have good relations with Israel. Thank you very much"
9. Zoom out, Morales leaves the dais

STORYLINE:

Bolivian President Evo Morales offered a press conference today on the sidelines of this week's General Debate at the United Nations (UN) and defended the legal consumption of coca leaf in his country, which is in contravention of the UN Convention on Narcotic Drugs.

Bolivia renounced the Convention last July, later requesting to rejoin but with reservations on the legality of the traditional uses of the plant.

Morales asked how was it possible "that the consumption of coca leaf could be banned under a Convention, when coca leaf does not harm human health?"

He insisted that while national and international regulations to combat drug trafficking are necessary, "we can not ignore the legal uses of the coca leaf."

Speaking about global issues, the Bolivian President questioned NATO's intentions in aiding the Libyan revolutionaries in their fight against deposed leader Muammar al-Gaddafi.

He asked "Who is going to own Libyan oil now? Will it still belong to Libyans? In Iraq, do oil and hydrocarbons belong to Iraqis now?"

Bolivia and a coalition of Latin American countries voted against recognizing the National Transitional Council (NTC) as the official representative of Libya at the United Nations on Friday. The resolution was approved by 114 votes to 17 votes against. 15 countries abstained.

On his Government's decision to break relations with Israel, Morales argued that Israel was the only nation which consistently supported the US's economic embargo on Cuba and said "we of course have bad relations with Israel" adding that "as long as they keep their position of supporting an economic blockade or abusing the Palestinians, it is impossible to have good relations with Israel."