The Secretary-General is closely following the political situation in Bolivia, in particular the preparations for the general elections which are to be held on 18 December 2005. He sent Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Angela Kane to La Paz to convey a message of support to the President of Bolivia and the Bolivian people ahead of the elections.

In a meeting with President Eduardo Rodríguez Veltzé earlier this morning, Ms. Kane delivered a letter from the Secretary-General, in which he calls on the people of Bolivia to maintain a peaceful and constructive attitude during the elections. He supports the work of the international observers of the Organization of American States, a body with which the United Nations maintains close communication and cooperation. The Secretary-General emphasizes that these elections constitute an invaluable opportunity to advance the search for peaceful and democratic solutions to the challenges Bolivia faces.