Uruguay
Orsi Defended His Speech at the UN and Rejected Claims That He Praised the Cuban Regime
The Uruguayan president responded to opposition criticism after his trip to New York. He said he spoke about human rights, freedoms and peace, and that his mention of Cuba was about the economic embargo.
Yamandú Orsi returned to Uruguay after his trip to New York to take part in the United Nations General Assembly and, when asked about opposition criticism, denied having defended the Cuban government. According to El País Uruguay, the president said at a press conference that he did not speak about the Cuban regime and that the only political system he referred to in favorable terms was that of the United States, in the context of the 250th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence.
According to that outlet, Orsi explained that in his message to the UN he focused on defending human rights, life, freedom and peace, and that he mentioned Cuba as an example of the effects of economic blockades. He also said he referred to the harm caused by tyrannies, although he avoided making a specific characterization of particular governments.
Still according to El País Uruguay, the president said he does not usually publicly assess other governments and stressed that in his address he insisted several times on the idea of freedom. In that sense, he said his remarks sought to rely on general convictions rather than direct accusations.
The criticism came from opposition leaders. The Uruguayan outlet reported that Álvaro Delgado, president of the National Party Board, questioned the absence of references in the speech to democracy and free elections in Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela, and said the message ultimately seemed more aimed at domestic politics than at a state foreign policy.
Also, according to El País Uruguay, lawmaker Pablo Abdala said the president failed to speak out about repression in Cuba, while Senator Pedro Bordaberry criticized him for condemning the economic embargo on the island without mentioning the lack of democracy.
In his address to the General Assembly, Orsi had begun with a greeting to the United States on the 250th anniversary of its independence and had upheld the rights to life, freedom and the pursuit of happiness. He also said that Uruguay understands peace not only as the absence of war, but as a permanent construction linked to dignity, coexistence and opportunity.
Sources
About this note. Written by El Notero with assistance from artificial intelligence, based on what was published by the cited outlet. El Notero did not conduct its own reporting on this event.
