Bolivian Foreign Minister Says Beller Safe-Conduct Request Remains Under Review

Bolivian Foreign Minister Héctor Huanca said on November 9 that authorities were still reviewing Mexico’s request for a safe-conduct document for Nadia Beller, who has received Mexican diplomatic asylum. Speaking after a cabinet meeting in La Paz, he said the decision involved other institutions as well as the Foreign Ministry. Huanca said, “We are analyzing it and will issue a response in due course.” He gave no deadline for a decision and said there was no specific procedure or established timetable for responding. The minister said Mexico’s ambassador had met with him, supplied information about Beller’s situation and asked Bolivia to consider the request under diplomatic-asylum arrangements. Earlier that day, the Foreign Ministry said Mexico had formally notified Bolivia on November 4 that it had granted Beller diplomatic asylum and requested the corresponding safe conduct. The ministry said competent authorities were evaluating the application under Bolivian law and applicable international obligations. It also denied that Huanca had committed to granting the document during his meeting with Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco at the 30th Ibero-American Summit in Madrid, or agreed to deliver it on his return to Bolivia.