Spain backs Bolivia in coca leaf campaign

[Judi Lynn]

Spain backs Bolivia in coca leaf campaign
Spain has agreed to help Bolivia decriminalise the chewing of coca leaf, already being sold in Bolivian fizzy drinks and toothpaste, Madrid said on Wednesday.
12:15AM GMT 20 Jan 2011

Bolivia has petitioned the UN to overturn a provision of the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, which requires countries to eradicate the chewing of coca leaf.

President Evo Morales, who also heads a regional coca growers union, is a fervent supporter of the leaf, which has been used as an ingredient in Bolivian soft drinks, tea, flour, toothpaste and liquor.

Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca launched a European tour this week to persuade countries not to block its diplomatic efforts in favour of the coca leaf.

On Tuesday, he met with Spanish Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez, who offered to act as a mediator at the UN "to try to help to find an agreement," a Spanish foreign ministry spokesman said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/bolivia/8270448/Spain-backs-Bolivia-in-coca-leaf-campaign.html