Bolivia: Morales Welcomes Another 'Indigenous Face' to Foreign Policy

Bolivian Indigenous politician and ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), Diego Pary, will replace Fernando Huanacuni as the country’s foreign minister, President Evo Morales announced Wednesday.

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The president cheered the rise of another “Indigenous face” to the foreign ministry, which he noted passed from an “Ayamara chancellor (Huanacuni) to a Quechua chancellor.”

“The Foreign Ministry has always been the Indigenous face. It is the Bolivian people, and we hope with these changes to continue reinforcing ... the service in the international community,” Morales said.

The change, though sudden, was necessary for Bolivia’s current political environment and for the good of the country, the president said.

Pary opened his swearing-in ceremony in Quechua, thanking Pachamama (or Mother Earth) as well as other Andean deities for their guidance throughout his life.

"I am thankful for the great opportunity and honor to serve our beloved country Bolivia," Pary said to a crowd of ministers and military personnel gathered for the event in La Paz Wednesday.

“My loyalty will be committed to the highest interest of our people and our Plurinational State from now on,” the Quechua official said.

A teacher and politician, Pary was born in the Chajnacaya community in Potosi and was quickly recognized for his leadership skills by his involvement in social and state organizations as well as political movements for Indigenous rights and education.

He was selected as vice minister of higher education in 2008 and was later transferred to the Bolivian Foreign Service where he has worked as Bolivia’s representative to the OAS since 2011.