Spain Forgives Bolivia Debt

Spain’s Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero told Evo Morales, president-elect of Bolivia, he would cancel part of a $120 million Spanish loan to Bolivia to support education initiatives. Morales visited Madrid ahead of his swearing-in scheduled for January 22. Morales said, “Bolivia needs partners and private, foreign companies but not owners.” He added that, “We will nationalize but this doesn’t mean confiscation.” Morales goes on to visit Belgium, France, South Africa, China and Brazil.