Sucre, Bolivia-Bolivian Autonomy Minister, Hugo Siles, stated today that the government has funds to distribute among 339 municipalities because the country has regained sovereignty, dignity and control over natural resources.

'Today we have recovered Bolivia for Bolivians', said Siles in an exclusive interview with Prensa Latina on the occasion of the 10th Hemispheric Summit of Mayors, which gathers more than a 1,700 delegates from twenty countries in this colonial city.

A decade ago, after the inauguration of President Evo Morales, the government nationalized hydrocarbons and took control of strategic companies.

According to official data, in the last decade, more than two million people in this South American nation are no longer on the poverty line and the country has emerged from the list of the most backward in the region to become a nation with one of the fastest economic growth rates.

The Minister expressed that Bolivia has a lot to show in this event to their Latin American brothers in their model of decentralization and autonomy of municipalities.

This model is based on recognizing our 36 nations and native peoples, he said.

On the hemispheric meeting of mayors, the second held in Bolivia after the one held here in 2004 in Santa Cruz, the minister explained that it allows the sharing of experiences with our Latin American brothers in the area of local development, environment, urbanization and utilities.

During the first day several topics were discussed, including emerging and sustainable cities, public policies for children and adolescents, the river as a bridge of community integration, local power in the service of processing and tourism as a source of development.

Sources from the organizing committee declared to Prensa Latina that more than 200 journalists local and international journalist are covering the conference.