foxhound
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2007
- Messages
- 473
- Reaction score
- 0
Salaam.....
ref:
US still acts like an 'empire' with Latin America, says Brazil's President Lula - Telegraph
US still acts like an 'empire' with Latin America, says Brazil's President Lula
The United States under Barack Obama still acts like an "empire" in its dealings with Latin America and poor countries around the world, according to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the outgoing president of Brazil.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva indicated that he has been frustrated by the lack of change in relations with the US since President Obama was elected Photo: AP
By Robin Yapp, Sao Paulo 5:47PM GMT 28 Dec 2010 57 Comments
President Lula, who will be replaced by Dilma Rousseff on New Year's Day after eight years in power, was once hailed by President Obama as "the most popular politician on earth".
But speaking just days before he steps down, President Lula indicated that he has been frustrated by the lack of change in relations with the US since President Obama was elected.
"I would like the relationship of the United States with Latin America to be different to what it is today," he told reporters in Brasilia, his country's capital.
"In the United States they should understand the importance of Latin America. The Americans don't have an optimistic vision of Latin America. They have always related as an empire to poor countries. This vision needs to change."
He said he hoped that President Obama will visit Brazil in 2011 but added: "The truth is that nothing has changed in the United States' vision for Latin America. I view that with sadness."
The relationship between President Obama and President Lula was once seen as likely to usher in closer relations between the United States and Brazil.
It was at the G20 summit in London in April 2009 that President Obama greeted his Brazilian counterpart with the words "love this guy" before declaring him the most popular politician on the planet.
But Brazil later tested the patience of the US by attempting to broker a nuclear fuel swap deal between Iran and Turkey as President Lula cultivated closer links with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Earlier this month Brazil angered Israel by recognising Palestinian statehood and President Lula insisted that there would not be peace in the Middle East while the US continued to lead negotiations.
President Lula also used his latest media comments to dampen down speculation that he could seek to run for president again in 2014 or later.
He had refused to rule out the possibility when asked last week, threatening to cause embarrassment for Ms Rousseff, of the Workers' Party he helped to found.
But asked again about the possibility, he said: "It is just and rightful that whoever is in power and is making a good government continues governing. Dilma will be my candidate.
"There is only one circumstance in which Dilma will not be a candidate for re-election: if she does not want to be."
ref:
US still acts like an 'empire' with Latin America, says Brazil's President Lula - Telegraph
US still acts like an 'empire' with Latin America, says Brazil's President Lula
The United States under Barack Obama still acts like an "empire" in its dealings with Latin America and poor countries around the world, according to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the outgoing president of Brazil.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva indicated that he has been frustrated by the lack of change in relations with the US since President Obama was elected Photo: AP
By Robin Yapp, Sao Paulo 5:47PM GMT 28 Dec 2010 57 Comments
President Lula, who will be replaced by Dilma Rousseff on New Year's Day after eight years in power, was once hailed by President Obama as "the most popular politician on earth".
But speaking just days before he steps down, President Lula indicated that he has been frustrated by the lack of change in relations with the US since President Obama was elected.
"I would like the relationship of the United States with Latin America to be different to what it is today," he told reporters in Brasilia, his country's capital.
"In the United States they should understand the importance of Latin America. The Americans don't have an optimistic vision of Latin America. They have always related as an empire to poor countries. This vision needs to change."
He said he hoped that President Obama will visit Brazil in 2011 but added: "The truth is that nothing has changed in the United States' vision for Latin America. I view that with sadness."
The relationship between President Obama and President Lula was once seen as likely to usher in closer relations between the United States and Brazil.
It was at the G20 summit in London in April 2009 that President Obama greeted his Brazilian counterpart with the words "love this guy" before declaring him the most popular politician on the planet.
But Brazil later tested the patience of the US by attempting to broker a nuclear fuel swap deal between Iran and Turkey as President Lula cultivated closer links with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Earlier this month Brazil angered Israel by recognising Palestinian statehood and President Lula insisted that there would not be peace in the Middle East while the US continued to lead negotiations.
President Lula also used his latest media comments to dampen down speculation that he could seek to run for president again in 2014 or later.
He had refused to rule out the possibility when asked last week, threatening to cause embarrassment for Ms Rousseff, of the Workers' Party he helped to found.
But asked again about the possibility, he said: "It is just and rightful that whoever is in power and is making a good government continues governing. Dilma will be my candidate.
"There is only one circumstance in which Dilma will not be a candidate for re-election: if she does not want to be."
