MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Uruguayan presidential candidates criticize Iran’s policy towards Israel

Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez, a close ally of Teheran, was the target of three of the four candidates

The four Uruguayan presidential candidates coincided in criticizing Iran’s position regarding the state of Israel and favoured including in the schools programs teaching the Shoa or Holocaust.

In an event organized by the Uruguayan Israelite Central Committee, CCIU, the presidential hopefuls of the four parties with parliamentary representation were invited to explain their positions regarding Iran and Israel, and the teachings of the holocaust experience as a means of combating all forms or racism and discrimination.

The Iran issue is not an easy one for Uruguay, since bilateral trade is significant and has been for over 25 years. Iran is a reliable client or Uruguayan rice, wool, skin and on occasions beef, among the main produce.

Each speaker had half an hour, plus a final round of fifteen minutes each. The presentations were done alphabetically and the first was the Colorado party’ candidate Pedro Bordaberry.

Bordaberry recalled the Colorado party long history of open doors to all immigration and that one of the decisive votes for the creation of the state of Israel and its right to existence was cast precisely by Uruguay under a Colorado government.

He criticized Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, a close ally of Teheran and its anti Israel position, who aspires to become a full member of Mercosur and has close links with the current government of President Tabare Vázquez and his Broad Front coalition. “With Chavez in Mercosur is like having a fox in the henhouse”, he underlined.

Luis Alberto Lacalle from the National party said that Uruguay as a small country should always be next to Israel and promised that if the Iran embassy in Montevideo is involved in its stated policy of dumping Israel to the sea, “we sill proceed”. Similarly if he is elected president Lacalle promised that “we will condemn all those countries who deny Israel and its right to existence”.

Independent Pablo Mieres said the Iran regime was a “threat” to the state of Israel and condemned all those statements and initiatives, deplorable, “that threaten world peace”. He also underlined that Venezuela’s incorporation, as an ally of Teheran, merits a reflection and even reconsideration. The Uruguayan parliament, together with Argentina, voted for Venezuela’s integration, but votes are pending in Brazil and Paraguay.

Finally the most expected words came from Danilo Astori, Vice-president hopeful of the incumbent ticket. The head of the ticked Jose Mujica, apologized alleging agenda problems.

(Iran) “is a potential factor of disequilibrium in international relations” said Astori who added that “the confrontational approach and vision of that republic and its leaders, is not shared”. Astori finally firmly rejected the Teheran regime “vision regarding the state of Israel”, which was applauded by the audience.

All candidates agreed in including Holocaust teachings in Uruguayan schools programs.