final push to stop Europe Telecom Int'l

January 28, 2008

To His Excellency KAREL P.M. DE BEER

Subject: Stopping ETI’s misuse of the investment treaty between The Netherlands and Bolivia

Dear Sir,

I am writing to make an appeal to you because, as the Ambassador of the Dutch Government to Canada, you can use all the influence you have to to correct a serious injustice being done by ETI (Europe Telecom International) against the Bolivian people.

The President of Bolivia, fulfilling with what he has said about “public services cannot be a private business” has requested ETI to sell to the State a majority controlling interest in Bolivia’s phone company to regain the telephone services for the Bolivian people. Without even sitting down to discuss or to negotiate the issue, ETI has initiated a proceeding before the World Bank’s tribunal (ICSID). In May of last year, Bolivia ended its participation in ICSID because it considers ICSID undemocratic and lacking judicial grounds. Coincidentally, it is now headed by Ana Palacio, former Foreign Relations Minister of the Aznar government of Spain(!).

ETI is not a company that represents Dutch interests. On the contrary, ETI represents primarily the interests of Telefonica of Spain, a company that has been fined several times by the European Commission because of bad business practices.

ETI is using the investment treaty (BIT) between The Netherlands and Bolivia to undertake this financial harassment and costly trial for Bolivia.

We ask you, together with hundreds of organizations in over 59 countries, to stop ETI from using The Netherlands’ treaty with Bolivia. If you do not stop this, the proceedings will begin on January 31st, 2008. The Netherlands cannot be an accomplice to this injustice and to the economic violence perpetrated against South America’s poorest country.

Sincerely,

Roberto Verdecchia
Spokesperson for New Humanism
Canada

cc
Premier, Jan Peter Balkenende
Minister van BZ , Maxime Verhagen
Minister van Ontwikkelingshulp, A.G. Koenders
Minister van Economische Zaken, Mw. M.J.A. van der Hoeven
Voorzitter Tweede Kamer, dr Tichelaer
Consulate General of the Netherlands in Toronto, Consul J. Kramer
ANP