http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2010/febrero/vier26/Lula.html
Havana. February 26, 2010
Lula: there is no reason for the economic blockade against Cuba
Juan Diego Nusa Peñalver
LUIZ Inácio Lula da Silva, president of the Federative Republic of
Brazil, this Thursday called on President Barack Obama to lift the economic,
commercial, and financial blockade of Cuba because there is no reason for this
measure to be in place.
"Like the Cubans, I do not think that there is any reason for the embargo
(blockade); there is no political or economic reason; the Cold War is over, and
that is enough for (the United States) to make a decision," affirmed the South
American president, speaking to the press at the José Martí International
Airport moments before concluding his visit. Cuban President Raúl Castro Ruz
was at the airport to bid farewell to the Brazilian president.
In this context, he called on Obama to use the same courage that the
American people used to elect him president of the United States to "solve the
problem of the embargo (blockade) of Cuba."
After expressing his pleasure with this, his third, visit to the island
as president of Brazil, he emphasized that the meeting he had with Fidel Castro
Ruz was very important.
He commented that he was very satisfied, very happy to find the leader of
the Cuban Revolution in good health and said that Fidel was discussing
economics as if he were a young man, thinking of the future of Cuba and Latin
American and the Caribbean, and, as might be expected, thinking of the future
of the world.
Likewise, he signaled the importance of his meeting with Cuban President
Raúl Castro and the bilateral agreements signed on this occasion, which will
contribute to Cuba's development.
At another point, he said that his visit was very significant "for
examining in detail the policy of solidarity toward Haiti adopted by Cuba,
Brazil, and other Latin American countries."
He explained that he is taking with him a Cuban proposal for both
countries to help the Haitians build a healthcare system.
Lula stated that Cubans are probably the best solidarity specialists in
the world. "They are the most prepared and therefore we want to work together
to return hope to Haitians."
Lastly, the Brazilian president assured that his country will work with
unfailing conviction Cuba's central ally in terms of the island's investment
and development policy.
He praised the island's potential and added that Brazil today has better
conditions than 10 year ago, and so "we are not going to fail at the point of
discussing the most important projects for Cuba."
Translated by Granma International
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