Bolivia Seeks Iran Investment as U.S. Ties Unravel

[dipsydoodle]

Sept. 24 (Bloomberg) -- Bolivian President Evo Morales said he's seeking investment from Iran, Russia and Venezuela to boost natural gas output amid worsening relations with the U.S.

Bolivia, with the second-biggest gas reserves in South America, is in talks with Iran and Venezuela to build a $10 billion petrochemicals complex, and has signed a framework agreement for investment by Russia's OAO Gazprom, Morales said in an interview today in New York.

Morales, 48, at odds with the U.S. over drug policy and his alliance with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, said he expects the U.S. to eliminate his country's preferences on $648 million of trade. Morales is also seeking to replace investment from Brazil's state-controlled oil company, which has cut off new capital in response to Morales's demands for revised contracts and nationalizations.

``We're betting on a huge petrochemicals investment, that will of course be integrated, including exploration and production,'' Morales said during the interview at the Bolivian mission to the United Nations. U.S. ``preferential trade status isn't a gift. Just because we aren't pro-Yankee, they scrutinize us. They can go right ahead, we are prepared.''

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=an8Per9at0UY&refer=news

I guess "They can go right ahead, we are prepared." means screw you Monkeyboy.