MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Hillary Clinton praises Uruguayan democratic system as “very strong”

US Secretary of State with President Jose Mujica

United States Secretary of States Hillary Clinton described the Uruguayan democracy as “very strong” and praised the solidity of its political system. Mrs. Clinton was in Montevideo on Monday, for a few hours, representing President Barack Obama in the inauguration ceremony of Uruguayan president Jose Mujica.

In mid morning Hillary Clinton and Arturo Valenzuela, Assistant Secretary for Hemisphere Affairs met with president elect Mujica and his ticket companion Danilo Astori in Uruguay’s Legislative Palace.

Mujica later invited leaders of the opposition, Luis Alberto Lacalle and Pedro Bordaberry together with the president of the Lower House Ivone Passada, Senator Lucia Topolansky and the future Foreign Affairs minister Luis Almagro to join the meeting with the US Secretary of State.

In a brief press conference, Mrs. Clinton praised Uruguay’s democratic system, the shared values with the US and underlined Uruguay’s long tradition of international involvement and commitment, well beyond its size.

“I wish to not only congratulate the president-elect and the new government, but to applaud the way in which the government is unifying and bringing together even opposition parties“ Clinton said. ”Indeed, Uruguayans are rightly proud of their leaders and their democracy.“

She made special emphasis on Uruguay’s contribution to United Nations peace keeping missions and mentioned the contingent in Haiti, which is the second largest behind that of Brazil.

Senator Bordaberry said Mrs. Clinton underlined the democratic spirit of the Uruguayan government and people, particularly from the moment the incoming authorities had invited members of the opposition to be present at the meeting.

Former president and Senator Lacalle said bilateral trade was one of the several issues addressed, and insisted upon the Secretary of State of Uruguay’s need to increase its foreign trade with the US.

During his inauguration speech before Congress President Mujica made a short direct reference to foreign leaders present at the ceremony, not only those from Latinamerica, but to some representing “great nations and from far away”, that had travelled specially for the occasion.

Mrs. Clinton later met with outgoing president Tabare Vazquez at Government House. Vazquez proved to be a staunch ally of United States, both under former president George Bush who visited Uruguay and now with the Obama administration. The meeting lasted forty minutes and was followed by a press conference in English.

”It's the second time I’ve visited Uruguay. I’ve come to see the peaceful transfer of power and have visited president (Vazquez), the president-elect (Mujica) and both pledged strong partnership based on mutual respect and mutual interest. We are going to continue to work close together” said Mrs. Clinton.

In mid afternoon Mrs Clinton left for Buenos Aires where she was scheduled to meet with President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. Relations between Argentina and the US are not distant, but are not close either and the Falklands’ dispute with Britain is a paramount issue for the Kirchner administration.

Uruguay was the first leg of a six country trip to Latinamerica: from Argentina, Mrs. Clinton will fly to Chile, to express US solidarity to the Chilean government and people in the midst of a national catastrophe consequence of a massive earth quake and tsunami. The following stop is Brazil, and rounding up support for sanctions on Iran (President Lula da Silva argues Iran has a right to develop a nuclear industry for peaceful purposes). The last leg is in Central America, Costa Rica and Guatemala.