13 Leaders to Attend Morales Inauguration
Until Thursday, 13 heads of state have confirmed their attendance at the new Bolivian President Evo Morales´ swearing in ceremony, reported Foreign Affairs Minister Armando Loaiza.

Loaiza said the figure was reached after the confirmation of President Ricardo Lagos, the first Chilean dignitary to visit La Paz since 1954.

The list also includes presidents Nestor Kirchner (Argentina); Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Brazil); Alvaro Uribe (Colombia); Leonel Fernandez (Dominican Republic); Alfredo Palacio (Ecuador); Enrique Bolaños (Nicaragua); Nicanor Duarte (Paraguay); Alejandro Toledo (Peru) and Hugo Chavez (Venezuela).

In addition, leaders Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Spain; Mohamed Abdelaziz, Saharawi Arab Republic and Janez Drnovsek, Slovenia are coming to the presidential ceremony, stressed the official.

While highlighting the mammoth expectations caused by the first indigenous president´s investiture in Latin America, Loaiza stated that another 44 foreign delegations have been accredited.

Uruguayan Tabare Vasquez informed of his absence for agenda problems.

Meanwhile, US ambassador in Bolivia David Greenlee announced Senior Director for Inter-American Affairs Thomas Shannon as his nation´s representative at the inaugural ceremony.

Greenlee expressed his government´s willingness to keep positive relations with the administration of Morales, who plans to dialogue with Washington from an unflinching position.