Before leaving office, Lula slams US policy in Latin America

[Judi Lynn]

Before leaving office, Lula slams US policy in Latin America
Dec 27, 2010, 19:58 GMT

Brasilia - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, days before leaving office, again slammed the United States, complaining that the 'empire's' policies toward Latin America have persisted despite the election of leftwing US President Barack Obama.

'Nothing has changed in the US vision of Latin America, which makes me sad,' Lula told reporters at a breakfast meeting Monday in Brasilia.

Lula's handpicked successor, Dilma Rousseff, was elected on October 31 and takes office Sunday.

'The United States needs to realize the importance of its relations with Latin America, because of the proximity (to the region), because of the number of Latinos in the United States and because it is a peaceful continent,' Lula said.

He denounced that Washington persists in 'an empire's relations with poor countries.'

More:
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/americas/news/article_1608124.php/Before-leaving-office-Lula-slams-US-policy-in-Latin-America

[Bacchus39]

1. Brazil's leader laments US views toward LatAm

BRASILIA, Brazil – Brazil's leader says U.S. policies toward Latin America have changed little since President Obama took office, disappointing many hoping for more engagement.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva says the U.S. vision of Latin America has "changed little or not at all" though the region has gone through what he calls the world's most important democratization process.

Silva's words Monday come just days before he hands power to his political protege Dilma Rousseff, elected in October.

Silva says he advised Obama at a 2009 summit in Trinidad and Tobago to pay more attention to Latin America. But a year later, Silva says he is saddened by the lack of attention Obama is giving to the region


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101227/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_brazil_latam_us

hmmmm I thought it was less engagement they wanted. Oh well.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Lula: Chavez is without a doubt Venezuela's best president in the last 100 years.

05/10/2008
SPIEGEL Interview with Brazilian President Lula
'We Want to Join OPEC and Make Oil Cheaper'

~snip~
SPIEGEL: Left-leaning governments are in power almost everywhere in South America. But the continent is divided into a more social democratic movement, which you lead, and a more radical one, shaped by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Are there any commonalities within the Latin American left any more?

Lula: The left in South America still uses the same slogans as the European left did in the 1920s and 1930s. Politicians take a more radical position in places where there is hunger, and where people have no access to education. This continent was churned up by military coups. Guerrilla groups were still active in many countries only 20 years ago. Today we all agree -- with the exception of FARC in Colombia -- that elections are the only legitimate way to acquire power. The victories of Hugo Chavez, Evo Morales in Bolivia and the others, most recently Fernando Lugo in Paraguay, signify democratic progress. It was high time that presidents were elected who are truly of the people.

SPIEGEL: But it's precisely Chavez, with his concept of socialism for the 21st century, who is intervening in the internal affairs of other countries, especially in the Andean region. Isn't he destabilizing the entire region?

Lula: He'll maybe have problems in his own country. Chavez is without a doubt Venezuela's best president in the last 100 years. Nevertheless, he has far less influence than people say he has. Europe has no need to worry about the left in Latin America.

SPIEGEL: A war almost broke out recently between Colombia and Ecuador.

Lula: And that's where Chavez proved to be a peacemaker. Fortunately, war in Latin America is usually waged only with words. The tongue is our most dangerous weapon. We talk too much!

More:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,552900,00.html

(Had to add this, since I found it in a search, in response to someone's abberational comment on Lula/Silva in LBN. It's a good quote to remember for future use!)

[Judi Lynn]

3. Too late to change my post, I meant to say "Lula/Chavez" in the post above. n/t