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By refusing to allow a plane carrying Bolivian President Evo Morales to fly over their territories on July 2, Spain, France, Italy and Portugal violated the 1944 Chicago Convention on international civil aviation, explains El Diario.
Authorities in the countries took the initiative, acting on concerns that former NSA agent Edward Snowden, who is wanted by Washington, might be on board the plane. In so doing, the Bolivian daily explains, they violated the terms of the convention which stipulates "that it is forbidden to deny overflying and landing rights to the aircraft of states."
Morales finally arrived in La Paz on July 3, following a 13-hour delay in Vienna and a technical stopover in the Canaries, putting an end to "a incident with global repercussions," reports the La Paz daily. The Bolivian government considers that its leader was "held captive" and that his life was "put in danger" by European states, under pressure from the US.
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