Morales finally flew out of Vienna on Wednesday morning after being detained for over 12 hours in Vienna airport.
An act of aggression and violation of international law’ is how Bolivia’s UN envoy described Austria’s decision to search the Bolivian presidential jet for NSA leaker Edward Snowden. The envoy has pledged to make an official complaint to the UN.
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Envoy Sacha Llorentty Soliz told press in New York that he had no doubt the decision to search the plane originated from the US.
Austrian authorities grounded Bolivian President Evo Morales’ plane in Vienna early on Wednesday morning due to suspicions that NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden was on board. Morales refuted speculation that Snowden had stowed away on the plane and allowed authorities to conduct a search.
"Our colleagues from the airport had a look and can give assurances that no one is on board who is not a Bolivian citizen," Austrian Deputy Chancellor Michael Spindelegger told press, saying rumors that Snowden might be on board were untrue.
The move to detain the presidential plane triggered a wave of furious rhetoric from Latin American leaders who alleged it had been “kidnapped by imperialism.”
Morales called on the countries who had cancelled air permits for the presidential flight to explain their decision.
“The governments of France, Spain and Portugal must explain to the world the reasons behind this delay,” said Morales, adding that these actions were indicative of the “repressive policies” of some EU countries.
“This is an excuse to try and frighten, intimidate and punish me. An excuse to try and gag us in the fight against the dominant economic powers,” said Morales.
Ricardo Martinez Covarrubias, Bolivia’s Ambassador to Austria has called the incident “unprecedented in history.”
“Obviously, this event contradicts the very logic of cooperation and co-existence of states. It also violates international agreements and international law,” he said in an interview with Spanish language RT Actualidad. It was a display of “disrespect to the sovereignty of other countries,” the diplomat added.
The Union of South American Nations – the region’s version of the EU – is going to hold a meeting to discuss the situation, the Ambassador said.
“First of all, they’ll certainly strongly condemn such behavior. I’m sure that in future mechanisms to prevent such incidents will be found, so that what has happened would never happen to Evo Morales or any other plane…in case similar suspicions arise,” Covarrubias concluded.
Morales finally flew out of Vienna on Wednesday morning after being detained for over 12 hours in the airport. He will stop of in the Canary Islands to refuel before flying on to La Paz, the capital of Bolivia.
