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!)