Obama Mentions Rousseff as Leader Who Helped Rekindle Relations with Cuba

07/02/2015 - 09h52

The US president Barack Obama, mentioned Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff on Wednesday, July 1st, when he said that this was the time for the US government to resume relations with Cuba.

In the same speech in which he confirmed the reopening of the embassy in Havana, Obama said that this measure would reduce the isolation between the US and Latin America.

"Since December we have seen a strong enthusiasm for this new initiative. Leaders across the Americas have expressed their support for the policy. You heard what the Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said about it yesterday [Tuesday, 30]. "

During her visit to the White House, Rousseff welcomed the end of Cuba's isolation. "It's a turning point in relations with Latin America. It changes the level of US relationship with the region. It's a trend to follow. "

In a statement, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry welcomes the decision and considers it the most important step in the process of normalization of relations between the two countries.

"The Brazilian government greets the governments of Cuba and the United States [...] for this historic decision, which is overcoming anachronistic animosities, which will bring potentially positive effects for the entire American continent," the statement said.

Still on Latin America, Obama considered that the actions of the US government against Cuba did not end up causing changes to the regime.

"Instead of supporting democracy for the Cuban people, our efforts to isolate Cuba despite good intentions, had the opposite effect: they helped maintain the status quo and isolated the US in relation to neighbors in this hemisphere. "

EMBARGO

Obama lobbied Congress, controlled by the Republicans, to approve the lifting of the embargo.

For him, opening up to trade and the movement of people help in the dissemination of democratic ideals on the island.

"I believe that the involvement of the United States through its embassy, its business and its people is the best way to show our support for democracy and [respect for] human rights."

Translated by CRISTIANE COSTA LIMA

Read the article in the original language