URUGUAY'S Vázquez Rosas: ‘We shall not tolerate external interference’

[Say_What]

From his inauguration speech:

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First, adherence to international law and especially to full respect for the sovereignty of the states, the defense and advancement of human rights, the peaceful solution of conflicts, the principle of nonintervention, the self-determination of people, universalism in international relations, and the defense and advancement of democracy.

And from the start of our government, it must be very clear -- we say this with respect but also with the utmost firmness -- we shall not tolerate external interference in our internal affairs. The affairs, decisions and problems of the Uruguayan people will be resolved by us Uruguayans.

Second, a firm rejection to all types of terrorism, all types of terrorism, violence and discrimination.

Third, a commitment to Mercosur and the prime nature of the process of integration as a strategic political project in the international agenda of Uruguay. We have said this many times and we say it today once again. The government that today assumes power wants a bigger and better Mercosur, an enlarged, reshaped and strengthened Mercosur that will be, in turn, a more solid platform to achieve a better international insertion of the bloc itself and all its participants.

Fourth, notwithstanding the above, we shall actively develop our relations with all other Latin American countries -- all, without exception -- because of the brotherly feeling we experience toward all, due to our common condition as Latin Americans.

http://www.progresoweekly.com/index.php?progreso=Tabare_Vazquez_Rosas&otherweek=1110434400

[Say_What]

1. Uruguay: Now what?

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On March 1, a man from the left, Tabaré Vázquez, assumed the presidency of Uruguay at the head of a heterogeneous government composed of socialists, communists, Christian socialists and even important figures of Uruguay's neoliberalism.

His rise to power, after winning the October elections on the first round with 50.45 percent of the votes (more than 1.113 million votes), has created a string of expectations regarding the direction his administration will take, basically a leftist government that holds a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (53 of 99 seats) and the Senate (17 of 30 seats.)

The presidents of both chambers, Nora Castro and José Mujica, respectively, are former Tupamaro guerrillas who were persecuted, tortured and sentenced to long prison terms during the military dictatorship of 1972-1985.

For obvious reasons, a government with those characteristics is not often seen in Latin America, not even in Venezuela or Brazil, much less in Argentina.

The first actions taken by the Vázquez government could not be more symbolic: A $100 million emergency plan to alleviate the misery in which 40 percent of the Uruguayan people live; the restoration of full diplomatic relations with Cuba -- broken during the administration of Jorge Batlle, whose servility to the government of the United States was total -- and the signing of a trade pact with Venezuela whereby Uruguay receives crude oil at reasonable prices and exports food products, in a demonstration that Latin American integration is possible.

http://www.progresoweekly.com/index.php?progreso=eduardo_dimas&otherweek=1110434400

[EC]

2. Sounds like Bush is bringing the world together, but against us....

Well, South America sounds like it's going to be a good place...