The end of the year is always a time for reflection. What did we do over the last year? What could we have done better? What will we try to achieve in the year ahead?
2010 has been another busy year for Bolivian-British relations. We have had a number of visits in both directions, including Vice President Garcia Linera to London in November, and the British Government’s Climate Change Adviser, John Ashton, to La Paz in October. A bilateral drugs Memorandum of Understanding is under negotiation after the visit of Vice Minister for Social Defence, Felipe Caceres, in October. The British Embassy continued its high profile work on supporting the strengthening of citizen’s security and community policing, collaborating with the police in Santa Cruz, La Paz, El Alto, Oruro, Viacha, Cochabamba and Tarija, and promoting visits by senior policemen in both directions during the year (photo). We have worked closely with the Bolivian government on climate change, including through the provision via the World Bank of fund through the Pilot Programme on Climate Resilience to help Bolivia’s adaptation work. We look forward to continuing our close cooperation in this field in 2011.
I would also like to salute the energy and endeavours of British-linked NGO’s, who continue to manage programmes in support of Bolivia across a wide spectrum of sectors, from nature conservation to education and gender issues, but always ultimately focused on reducing poverty and improving lives. Oxfam UK, Care UK, Plan International, Christian Aid, CAFOD, WWF, HelpAge International
