Latin American leaders express wishes for new U.S. administration

Source: Xinhua | 01-21-2009 11:29

MEXICO CITY, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Latin American leaders expressed good wishes for the new U.S. administration led by Barack Obama as the latter took office as the U.S. president Tuesday.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon told local media that he wished Obama "the biggest success" and reaffirmed his commitment to "working together with Obama to solve the problems between Mexico and the United States in a hand-in-hand manner."

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet called Obama's inauguration a "historic event," noting that the new U.S. president "has awakened great expectations from the U.S. people and also millions of people in the world at a very difficult moment of the U.S. history."

Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose Garcia Belaunde hoped the Peru-U.S. ties could be strengthened during Obama's administration, Peru's local radio RPP reported.

Noting Obama represents a major shift in U.S. foreign policy, the minister said bilateral relationship "is very strong, very important."

Ecuadorian Vice President Lenin Moreno, while wishing the U.S. people and Obama "big success," said "Obama is a moderate, calm and intelligent man."

In a statement, he praised Obama's 19-minute inauguration speech as a "concrete" one and said the new U.S. head of state has expectations from all over the world.

Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez sent Obama a congratulatory message, in which Vazquez said he and his country "sincerely" wished the success of Obama's management and that the U.S. would prosper under his leadership.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who had been at odds with Bush, hoped that Obama could look at Latin America "with a new view, with a new focus of respect toward the democracies and the changes."

Speaking to his followers in the eastern state of Anzoategui, Chavez admitted that it had been difficult for Venezuela to improve its ties with the United States. He expressed his gladness that Bush left.

"Let's hope that the arrival of a new president means a change for the freedom of the peoples," he said.

Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo hoped his country's ties with the United States could be secured especially in the economic field, according to Paraguayan Foreign Minister Alejandro Hamed.

Argentine Chief of Cabinet Sergio Massa said Obama's inauguration "opened an era of hope and great expectations" in the world, especially for the Latin America-U.S. ties, local media reported.

Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana said he hoped the new U.S. administration could "advocate multilateral cooperation."

Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States in Washington Tuesday, becoming the first African-American head of state in the country's 233-year history.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei