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Uruguay prepared to receive Lula da Silva if he requests political asylum

Tuesday, November 22nd 2016 - 09:36 UTC
Full article 30 comments
“Brazil is a very important country for Uruguay, from all points of view; it is in the interest of us to have the best of possible relations with the government of Brazil”.  “Brazil is a very important country for Uruguay, from all points of view; it is in the interest of us to have the best of possible relations with the government of Brazil”.
“Uruguay is a country of open arms”, underlined Vazquez, “whoever arrives in Uruguay to work, to live, to share, to respect our laws...is welcome”. “Uruguay is a country of open arms”, underlined Vazquez, “whoever arrives in Uruguay to work, to live, to share, to respect our laws...is welcome”.

President Tabare Vazquez said on Monday that Uruguay recognizes the government of president Michel Temer, respects the decisions of Brazil emerging from its political situation and admitted considering giving asylum to Brazilian politicians, if contemplated under International Law.

 “It must be clear that Uruguay historically and in the framework of international relations recognizes governments, and Brazil now has a government which Uruguay has already recognized” said Vazquez on Monday talking with the media following a conference with Brazilian business people in Sao Paulo.

“Brazil is a very important country for Uruguay, from all points of view, including trade and investment, and thus it is in the interest of us to have the best of possible relations with the government of Brazil”, added the president.

“Brazil's domestic problems are addressed and solved by Brazil, and us, from outside are not entitled to any opinion on the matter. We don't want to intervene in domestic political problems of other countries”, insisted the Uruguayan leader in reference to the political situation Brazil is still going through, including a raft of corruption scandals.

Vazquez was cautious when referring to president Michel Temer and hardly mentioned him, but he also anticipated that if any Brazilian politician appeals for asylum in Uruguay, and the situation is contemplated by International Law, Uruguay will accept it and receive the person.

“I believe president Temer is a very kind and serious person, I talked with him for half an hour in New York...that's it”, said Vazquez and took no more questions on the matter.

In recent weeks there have been insistent rumors in Uruguay that ex president Lula da Silva, mentioned as a suspect in several corruption cases linked to Petrobras, and who this week faces a round of questionings, could be planning to take political refuge in Uruguay.

Several media recalled that one of Lula's sons who is a soccer coach is working for a Uruguayan football team with the purpose of “preparing” the asylum for the family, but his solicitors and the local team have strongly denied such possibility.

“Uruguay is a country of open arms”, underlined Vazquez without giving names, “whoever arrives in Uruguay to work, to live, to share, to respect our laws...is welcome”.

Vazquez concluded saying that, “as I have repeatedly stated, within the constitution and our legal system, all is accepted, but outside that framework, not an iota”.

Categories: Politics, Brazil, Latin America.

Top Comments

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  • DemonTree

    @ JB
    Not a wise thing to wish for; if the government is going to stoop to assassination, it could just as easily be Temer or someone you support who gets bumped off.

    In fact the most likely target would be whoever is trying to clean up the corruption, since so many people are implicated. Not a cheering thought.

    Nov 23rd, 2016 - 12:35 am +2
  • Jack Bauer

    They are already preparing for the inevitable - Lula's escape to Uruguay. Quite frankly, it doesn't make much difference to Brazil, as if he flees he'll be signing his own political death sentence ; he'll be condemned 'in-absentia' and the joint-effort of the Federal task-force will continue to search for the stolen money. And to top it, we won't need to see his disgusting, snarling, evil face anymore. But Brazil might ask for his extradition, so that he may rot in prison.

    Nov 22nd, 2016 - 05:28 pm +1
  • :o))

    Asylum or not; all the loot which he and his associates have gathered during the past ten or so years; is virtually impossible to be returned to the Brazilians.

    Nov 22nd, 2016 - 11:47 pm +1
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