Bolivia's Morales to meet with Rice

LA PAZ, Bolivia
In the first sign of high-level dialogue between socialist Bolivia and the United States, Bolivia's President Evo Morales announced on Wednesday he will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Morales said the encounter is scheduled for this weekend in Santiago, Chile, where the two will attend Michelle Bachelet's presidential inauguration. Bolivia is South America's poorest nation and the world's third-largest cocaine producer.

"I ask the United States to act with sincerity and responsibility," Morales told foreign reporters just before meeting with the U.S. ambassador to Bolivia, David Greenlee.

Morales was sworn into office in January as Bolivia's first indigenous president, and he has frequently lambasted the U.S. government for what he says are its mixed messages toward Bolivia and its "imperialist" ways.

Washington has been wary of Morales' leftist rhetoric and worries he may make good on an election promise to decriminalize all coca growing. Coca leaves are the raw material for making cocaine, but traditional uses include their brewing or chewing to combat altitude sickness and hunger.

This week, the Bolivian leader accused the United States of "blackmail" for withdrawing anti-terrorism funding from Bolivia. And last month, he slammed a U.S. decision to revoke the visa of a close aide and fellow coca farmer.

"They think that social organizations are terrorists," said Morales, who rose to power fighting U.S.-backed campaigns to eradicate coca plantations.

Despite his criticisms, Morales has vowed to pursue friendly relations with the U.S. administration and to fight the narcotics trade.