| The United States denied Thursday that it | | | | allegations, it's just not true. This was |
| removed anti-aircraft missiles from Bolivia | | | | done at the request of the Bolivian |
| without the knowledge of top officials in La | | | | government, and it was done in partnership |
| Paz. The State Department says the operation | | | | and consistent I would note with an |
| was at the request of Bolivian authorities | | | | Organization of American States resolution on |
| and in line with an Organization of American | | | | the matter," he said. |
| States resolution. | | | | |
| | | | The O.A.S. resolution, approved at the |
| Officials here acknowledge that the United | | | | regional grouping's meeting in Ft. Lauderdale |
| States removed a small number of MANPADS, | | | | Florida in June, called for strict security |
| man-portable air defense system, from Bolivia | | | | for MANPADS, and the destruction of surplus |
| earlier this year as part of a broader effort | | | | weapons. |
| to keep the shoulder launch missiles out of | | | | |
| the hands of terrorists. | | | | It urged member countries in a position to do |
| | | | so to provide aid and technical assistance to |
| But they are denying charges from Bolivia, | | | | other states in collecting, securing and |
| which figured in that country's presidential | | | | destroying stockpiles. |
| election campaign, that the operation was | | | | |
| conducted without the knowledge of senior | | | | The United States has worked with a number of |
| Bolivian officials. | | | | countries around the world to reduce MANPADS |
| | | | arsenals, especially in nations where the |
| Bolivian President-elect Evo Morales, the | | | | missiles are kept under poor security and |
| victor in last Sunday's election, has alleged | | | | could find their way onto the black market |
| that the 28 Chinese-made missiles were | | | | and into the hands of terrorists. |
| spirited out of the country in June in an | | | | |
| operation he described as international | | | | U.S. officials have been seeking to persuade |
| intervention. | | | | Nicaragua to dispose of hundreds of |
| | | | Russian-made MANPADs acquired in the 1980's |
| He says he will press for an investigation of | | | | by the leftwing Sandinista government. |
| the affair and is quoted as saying he would | | | | |
| punish those responsible and evict U.S. | | | | That effort, too, has become ensnared by |
| military advisers from the country. | | | | domestic politics with the leftist-dominated |
| | | | Nicaraguan Congress opposing the disposal |
| Questioned about the issue here, State | | | | effort. |
| Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said U.S. | | | | |
| officials had worked with the Bolivian | | | | During his campaign for the Bolivian |
| government on the removal of a small quantity | | | | presidency, Mr. Morales filed a lawsuit |
| of missiles he said were in a deteriorating | | | | against government officials for allegedly |
| condition. | | | | putting the country's national defense at |
| | | | risk by disposing of the missiles. |
| He said the removal came at the request of | | | | |
| the Bolivian government consistent with an | | | | The missile issue is another potential |
| O.A.S. resolution last June and said | | | | problem in the U.S. relationship with Mr. |
| suggestions to the contrary are untrue: | | | | Morales, who has sparked concern in |
| | | | Washington with campaign promises to legalize |
| "As for who was told in Bolivia about the | | | | coca production in Bolivia and oppose |
| action, you'll have to talk to the Bolivian | | | | hemispheric free trade. |
| government about that. As for these other | | | | |