The Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Embassy of Bolivia, Leydi Urquidi Chávez, delivered words yesterday before the members of the Diplomatic Corps and the Bolivian community in Madrid at the floral offering that took place in front of the monument to General Simón Bolívar on the occasion of the commemoration of the 201st anniversary of the independence of the South American country.
“Commemorating two centuries and one year of sovereign life means taking on with absolute responsibility the sacred historical legacy of those who preceded us in the liberating struggle,” highlighted Leydi Urquidi Chavez at the beginning of her speech.
“As a representative of Bolivia,” she pointed out, “I am firmly convinced that democracy and the rule of law are the indispensable starting point for the progress of our nation. Democracy is strengthened when we respect the popular will and its legally constituted governments, when we preserve our institutions, and when we are able to place the interests of our homeland above personal, sectoral, or party interests. Our rule of law provides the certainty and legal security necessary to consolidate our economic development and open the doors to the world. We are merely passengers; it is the institutions of the homeland that remain and endure through time and circumstances. Serving the homeland is the true reason for this Embassy and for every Bolivian. Our work transcends political circumstances and is, above all, a service to the State and the Bolivian people.”
The Bolivian Chargé d’Affaires then emphasized that the Embassy will continue “working with the conviction to strengthen our bilateral ties with the Kingdom of Spain, a country with which we share a deep history, democratic values, and the firm purpose of consolidating an international environment of peace, well-being, and partnership. We will continue to contribute to that noble purpose, always guided by the ethics of responsibility.”
Leydi Urquidi Chávez encouraged discovering “a vibrant Bolivia, full of opportunities and with an extraordinary projection. Bolivia is a country blessed by nature and by the dignity of its people. We possess a unique geographical diversity that ranges from the majestic peaks of the Andes and the warmth of our valleys to the vast green and fertile Amazon. This variety of ecological floors not only gifted us stunning landscapes but positions Bolivia as a powerhouse of high-quality organic food, cultivated in harmony with Mother Earth and ready to supply the most demanding markets on the planet.”
“We are holders of the largest world reserves of lithium. We have 32 of the 36 rare and strategic minerals on the planet. We are making firm progress in the certification of new natural gas reserves. Bolivia is not only a destination of natural wealth; it is a strategic partner with a vision for the future, with clear rules and a fertile scenario for investments, betting on innovation, sustainability, and mutual development. But our greatest treasure, our true strength, is our people, warm, hardworking, creative, and deeply resilient men and women,” said the Bolivian diplomat.
“We know that our plurality enriches us,” concluded Leydi Urquidi Chávez, “but it also imposes on us the constant challenge of overcoming polarization, as the social doctrine of the Church wisely reminds us, and in the words of the Holy Father, true peace and the progress of nations are not achieved through sterile confrontation or exclusion, but through harmonious collaboration and the unachievable pursuit of the common good. Therefore, today I make a sincere and profound call for unity and fraternity among Bolivians. The true wealth of our nation lies in its people and in our ability to find consensus above legitimate differences.”
