MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Uruguay could recognize Palestine next year; confirms solid ties with Iran
Uruguay’s president Jose Mujica said that ‘most probably’ next year his government would be recognizing Palestine and will continue to have “solid” relations with Iran, because it is in “the interest of the country”. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesI will be moving to Uruguay very soon. And, I am so very proud to hear how President Mujica views our troubled world. Mujica's view is the complete opposite of President Obama, who after be given an undeserved Nobel Peace Prize, expands the war in Afghanistan and signs the largest arms sales agreement in history. If there were only more Mujicas, what a different world it would be.
Sep 18th, 2010 - 07:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I have to confess that, as an Argentinean, I’m quite envious about a few things they have and do in Uruguay.
Sep 18th, 2010 - 07:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0In particular their current president…………….
We should kidnap him and force him to rule us :-)
Let´s see , ex-guerilla, buddy-buddy with Cuba, Palenstine, Iran, Venezuela, and Argentina. And to think that someone believes that democracy is about a person who “rules” the people of a country; this is normally someone who a king or emperor or dictator. Sounds like a very desirable democracy to me.
Sep 18th, 2010 - 09:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Irony is a disciplinarian feared only by those who do not know it, but cherished by those who do”
Sep 18th, 2010 - 09:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Søren Kirkegård
And Erica Jong said ”Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't.”
Sep 18th, 2010 - 09:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The quality of your posts seems to be congruent with the eminence of the authors you choose to quote.......
Sep 18th, 2010 - 10:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It is not important who says something, it is what they say. And speaking of not recognizing irony.....
Sep 18th, 2010 - 11:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@jerry
Sep 19th, 2010 - 12:38 am - Link - Report abuse 0AFAIK, Mujica's activities as a guerrilla were in opposition to the Uruguayan dictatorship. He was not fighting a democratically elected government. And what is the problem in having close ties with Cuba, Palenstine, Iran, Venezuela or Argentina?
Cuba: In a human rights POV, it's good not to isolate Cuba. Having a respectful relationship with that country can facilitate negotiations with it - negotiations that can ease its relationship with politically oppressed Cubans. In these last few years the Catholic Church has had a respectful relation with Cuba - and see the number of political prisoners it has convinced the Castros to set free.
Palestine: By being shortchanged by the US, the Palestine people are already too isolated from the international community. The Israeli blockade and its unlawful - repeatedly comdenmed by the UN - military campaigns in Gaza, and its equally illegal occupation of Cisjordania, make the life of Palestianian people hard. They are unable to develop a dynamic economic life, and thus to improve its people's lives. In Gaza the lack of food and medicine caused by the Israeli blockade is a human concern. Under a human rights POV, the Palestine cause is a much more noble one than any Israeli justification for its illegal oppression.
Iran, Venezuela: Right, there can be made a case to object to these two countries on human rights grounds. But, as oil rich countries, they are economically important. Btw, when will the US and the UK cut their ties with Saudi Arabia?
Argentina: ruled by democratically elected president and Congress, free press, respect to minorities. Economically important to Uruguay. Any Uruguay president would be stupid in not trying to have good ties with Argentina.
I do appreciate the fact that president Jose Mujica received the delegation of cuban oppositors, while visiting Cuba, hats off for Mr. Mujica.
Sep 19th, 2010 - 08:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I do find it also consistent with Uruguay´s foreign policy to recognize Palestina as a state, since they recognized Israel back in 1948, again, hats for Mr. Mujica.
Having said that I really don´t agree when I see any head of a democratic state visiting the Cuba to legitimate the Cuban totalitarian regime. I do believe that Latin American leaders should raise their voice in condemnation of Raul and Fidel Castro´s long dictatorship in the island, the absence of some basic human rights, like free speech, and freedom to travel and to leave and come back to your own country, etc.
It really saddens me that this whole cuban revolution and anti-imperialism pantomime seems to linger on forever with basically the same actors, mr. castro, then mr. castro´s brother, the same communist party, the same old gang of castro´s friends, the same old structure that continues to control and harass the cuban citizen.
It's not like morality has anything to do with international relations.
Sep 19th, 2010 - 10:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I moved to Uruguay, from the USA, because of Vazquez, and Frente Amplio policies. I respect Mujica a great deal! Very glad to have him as a president!
Sep 20th, 2010 - 12:31 am - Link - Report abuse 0hey master, welcome to river plate, enjoy your time in liberty land.
Sep 20th, 2010 - 02:52 am - Link - Report abuse 0Thnx :D Bill, I will. Not sure how much of what you said is sarcasm, but I do indeed appreciate the open space and the freedom.
Sep 20th, 2010 - 06:40 am - Link - Report abuse 00% sarcasm, welcome.
Sep 20th, 2010 - 10:41 am - Link - Report abuse 0What bit of 'Palestine' is he going to recognise? The Palestinian authority in the West Bank, Hamas in the Gaza Strip - or both??
Sep 20th, 2010 - 12:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!