Lula Disappointed with Obama's Latin America Policy

Fox News Latino
December 27, 2010

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2010/12/27/lula-disappointed-obamas-latam-policy/#ixzz19QPNybJG

Brasilia

Relations between the United States and Latin America
have not changed in any meaningful way under President
Barack Obama, Brazilian head of state Luiz Inacio Lula
da Silva said here Monday.

"The truth is that nothing has changed and I view that
with sadness," the departing chief executive said
during a breakfast with journalists at the presidential
palace in Brasilia.

Lula, who leaves office Saturday after two four-year
terms, said that despite his having several
conversations with Obama about the need for "a change
of vision" in Washington's relations with Latin
America, he is not confident the message has been
received.

"In the United States they should understand the
importance of Latin America," the Brazilian leader
said, "a democratic region ... without nuclear bombs."

With "more than 35 million Latin Americans living in
the United States," Lula said he finds it hard to
understand why Washington continues to behave as an
"empire" in its ties with the region.

"I hope Obama visits Brazil in 2011, but the important
thing is that he visits not just this country, but all
our countries, to know our reality," the Brazilian
president said.

Lula also repeated the criticism he offered last week
of U.S. policy in the Middle East.

"There will be no accord in the Middle East while the
United States believes it can build peace alone,
because it is part of the conflict," he said.

While "the people of the United States want peace" and
"many sectors" among the Israelis and Palestinians feel
likewise, the officials at the negotiating table do not
necessarily share that goal, Lula said.

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