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Brazil Warns Of “Deterioration” Of US
Relations With South America
SAO PAULO - ”It’s possible that when
President Obama concentrates on the region’s
problems relations between United States and
South America will have deteriorated, let’s
us hope it does not happen”, said Amorim in
a Sunday interview with Folha de Sao Paulo.
“Maybe Presdient Obama is too absorbed with
Iraq and Afghanistan and that impedes him to
concentrate in other issues”, added Amorim.
The Brazilian official insisted that the
core issue of relations between the US and
South America is the deployment of US forces
in seven Colombian bases following on an
agreement recently signed between the
administration of President Obama and
Colombian leader Alvaro Uribe.
“I believe the US should act with more
frankness towards the region. President Lula
da Silva proposed President Obama a meeting
to address the issue (of US personnel in
Colombian bases) but he did not accept”,
said Amorim.
“These bases have triggered concern”,
because the agreement “contains ambiguities,
not only does it refer to combating the
drugs trade, it also mentions threats to
peace and democracy”, underlined Amorim who
then asked, “who defines what are threats to
democracy”.
Regarding Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez
statements calling on the military and the
civilian population to prepare for war with
Colombia, Amorim argued that the Venezuelan
leader “back stepped on the statement and
one thing is to talk about war, a word which
should not be used, and another is the
practical and objective issue of the bases
in Colombia”.
“Venezuela might have certain rivalry with
Colombia, but Venezuela does not feel
threatened by Colombia, but by United
States”, said Amorim, so that is why “it is
most recommended a direct dialogue between
United States and Venezuela”, which will
contribute to defuse tensions in the region.
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