MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mujica says Obama has 'his hands and feet tied' so that 'he can't do a thing'

The Uruguayan president is scheduled to meet Obama and Kerry next Monday

Less than a week before meeting with Barack Obama in Washington, Uruguayan president Jose Mujica described his peer as a 'progressive leader who has his feet and hands tied” and described the fact he made it to the White House, a complete surprise, 'almost unconceivable'.

 “They've tied his hands and feet so that he can't advance with his political agenda. The fact he reached the White House was a real surprise and given the limitations of the US political system, almost unconceivable”, which broke “all US politics logic”.

Mujica added that the strategy which is being applied on Obama “is to not let him do a thing, have him surrounded, under siege so he can't move a finger”.

“I believe the strategy is to have him remembered as a black president, but who did nothing, who achieved nothing. They are ferocious, really ferocious in the system. I believe they are screwing the American people, the most needy in the US, that is why they have him fenced in, with a siege”, underlined the Uruguayan leader.

Besides trade and education issues in the agenda which has been agreed for next Monday, 12 May, Mujica anticipated he would also talk, in a critical way, about US foreign policy towards Latin American, and why he believes the US has lost global influence.

Apparently Mujica is going to request President Obama that US professors help with teaching in Uruguayan universities, particularly regarding sciences, and on the controversial issue of the Guantanamo prisoners, a few of which Uruguay is prepared to take, “we've told the US government our conditions, it's now up to them to reply”.

Next Monday in the morning Mujica will first meet with Secretary of State, John Kerry and later with President Obama at the White House. In the afternoon the Uruguayan leader will give a press conference.

Mujica's agenda also includes meeting Uruguayan residents and with US university students at the American University in Washington. The president is also scheduled to meet with Council of Americas representatives and the US Chamber of Commerce.

The Uruguayan leader is travelling with several cabinet ministers, business people, union leaders and Julio Bocca the Argentine born artist who has recovered Uruguay's ballet school.