COCHABAMBA, March 14 (NNN-Prensa Latina): Bolivia will gain access to the Atlantic Ocean ports in Uruguay with an agreement to implement natural gas exports to Montevideo.

A document, to enforce the agreement was signed by Bolivia’s President Evo Morales and his Uruguayan counterpart, Jose Mujica, who is on a visit to the Andean nation.

The text, signed in the presence of cabinet members from both countries, reaffirms efforts to develop the Paraguay-Parana to strengthen bilateral and regional trade.

The road is strategic for river transport along the water system of the same name, in a section between Puerto Cáceres (Brazil) in its northern and Puerto Nueva Palmira (Uruguay) on its southern edge.

Countries that share this system are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Also according to the statement, technical committees will evaluate the appropriateness of enabling the ports of Montevideo and Nueva Palmira for transit to and from Bolivia of various products of the South American nation.

On energy cooperation, they also agreed the sale to Uruguay of Bolivian natural gas with the granting of loans weighted by the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) for the construction of a gas ducts for making progress in the field.

They also emphasized the need to further strengthen the mechanism of trinational integration URPABOL (Uruguay-Paraguay-Bolivia) in the areas of energy, commercial and economic.

For its part, Uruguay committed to providing farming experience to Bolivia in the fight against FMD.

Montevideo has also expressed support of La Paz to the international community and the United Nations to decriminalize the coca leaf, the traditional uses and medicinal properties.

After signing the Joint Declaration , Mujica and Morales set out to tour the provinces of Cochabamba Aiquile, Mizque and Punata.

The visiting delegation was composed of Chancellor, the Ministers of Defense and Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, the nation’s ambassador in Bolivia, and President of the Technological Laboratory of Uruguay.

-NNN-PRENSA LATINA

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