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Obama impressed with progress in Mujica's Uruguay | Obama impressed with progress in Mujica's Uruguay |
(35 minutes later) | |
President Obama has said he has been "consistently impressed" with progress in Uruguay since President Jose Mujica took office in 2010. | President Obama has said he has been "consistently impressed" with progress in Uruguay since President Jose Mujica took office in 2010. |
During a face-to-face meeting in Washington, Mr Obama called Mr Mujica a leader on human rights throughout the Western hemisphere. | During a face-to-face meeting in Washington, Mr Obama called Mr Mujica a leader on human rights throughout the Western hemisphere. |
For his part, President Mujica suggested that Americans prepare themselves for demographic changes. | For his part, President Mujica suggested that Americans prepare themselves for demographic changes. |
The Uruguayan leader said the US would have to become a "bilingual country". | The Uruguayan leader said the US would have to become a "bilingual country". |
The two presidents discussed trade and strengthening existing educational exchanges, but there was no mention of Uruguay's controversial legalisation last week of the production, sale and consumption of marijuana. | |
The marijuana law, which Mr Mujica signed on 6 May, is intended to deprive criminals of the lucrative sale of cannabis, but critics argue it will expose more people to drugs. | The marijuana law, which Mr Mujica signed on 6 May, is intended to deprive criminals of the lucrative sale of cannabis, but critics argue it will expose more people to drugs. |
President Obama said he and his counterpart both thought there was "room for additional work to expand trade and commerce between our countries". | President Obama said he and his counterpart both thought there was "room for additional work to expand trade and commerce between our countries". |
He also praised Uruguay's "contributions to peacekeeping in places like Haiti and Africa", adding that the two nations could learn from each other on how to deal with diverse societies. | He also praised Uruguay's "contributions to peacekeeping in places like Haiti and Africa", adding that the two nations could learn from each other on how to deal with diverse societies. |
'Tobacco is murderous' | 'Tobacco is murderous' |
The Uruguayan president spoke about his country's tough restrictions on tobacco smoking, which have led to it being sued by the US tobacco giant Philip Morris. | The Uruguayan president spoke about his country's tough restrictions on tobacco smoking, which have led to it being sued by the US tobacco giant Philip Morris. |
"In the world, eight million people die each year from smoking tobacco," he said. | "In the world, eight million people die each year from smoking tobacco," he said. |
"This is mass murder. We are in an arduous fight, very arduous, and we must fight against very strong [corporate] interests." | "This is mass murder. We are in an arduous fight, very arduous, and we must fight against very strong [corporate] interests." |
Mr Mujica also said that, as people were learning English in his country out of necessity, Americans also had to learn Spanish because of an increase in the Latino population. | Mr Mujica also said that, as people were learning English in his country out of necessity, Americans also had to learn Spanish because of an increase in the Latino population. |
"The strength of Latin women is admirable, and they will fill this continent with people who speak Spanish and also Portuguese." | "The strength of Latin women is admirable, and they will fill this continent with people who speak Spanish and also Portuguese." |
The meeting come less than two months after President Mujica announced his country would take five prisoners from the US Guantanamo Bay detention centre in Cuba. | The meeting come less than two months after President Mujica announced his country would take five prisoners from the US Guantanamo Bay detention centre in Cuba. |
He said he had accepted a request from President Obama "for human rights reasons". | He said he had accepted a request from President Obama "for human rights reasons". |