Mbeki+Hails+Evo+Morales,+Prensa+Latina



=S Africa´s Mbeki Hails Evo Morales=

Johannesburg, Jan 10 (Prensa Latina) South Africa´s President Thabo Mbeki congratulated Wednesday Bolivia´s President-elect Evo Morales, who is on an international tour, describing his election as evidence of the continuing changes in Latin America.

"Your election as the president of Bolivia indicates that the tide of change continues to sweep through Latin America bringing with it the hope of political and economic transformation and development for your country and indeed the region as a whole," Mbeki said when receiving the leader of the Movement towards Socialism (MAS).

After conveying South Africa´s support for the future MAS government, Mbeki said that Morales´ election "brings with it the optimism and glad tidings that 2006 will also usher in the desired fundamental socio-economic changes that your country expects."

He stressed the South African government and its people stood ready to continue working to advance the developmental agenda of the south in general and of Bolivia in particular.

Morales will be inaugurated as Bolivia´s first indigenous president on January 22.

He´s currently fulfilling an international tour that has already taking him to Cuba, Venezuela, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, China and now South Africa.

Morales is scheduled to visit Brazil, Argentina and is expected to meet with the presidents of Paraguay and Ecuador before he is sworn in as president.

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From: [|http://www.plenglish.com/Article.asp?ID=%7B5A3D0414-6A66-495B-8845-4283CED4BF35%7D&language=EN]