The Bolivian government expressed "discomfort" and "concern" about President Hugo Chávez' statements that the "Washington-driven oligarchy" intends to divide the Andean country, Foreign Minister Juan Ignacio Siles Wednesday said.
 
Siles, who met with his Venezuelan counterpart Alí Rodríguez in Montevideo, said he had expressed to Rodríguez his country's concerns about Chávez' claims, which sparked a controversial debate in Bolivia.
 
"(Venezuelan) Foreign Minister Rodríguez has been duly informed of our concerns and discomfort. He will talk about it with President Chávez and, therefore, we expect any response," Siles said during a press conference as quoted by new agency DPA.