Uruguayan Leader Meets With Obama to Talk Trade and Human Rights

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/13/world/americas/uruguayan-leader-meets-with-obama-to-talk-trade-and-human-rights.html

Version 0 of 1.

URUGUAY — President José Mujica of Uruguay met with President Obama in Washington on Monday, pointing to the strengthening ties between the United States and the South American nation, which is advancing an array of socially liberal legislation, including the legalization of same-sex marriage and abortion. True to his laid-back style, Mr. Mujica, a 78-year-old former guerrilla who has farmed chrysanthemums for a living, did not wear a tie to the White House. The leaders discussed opportunities to expand trade as Uruguay, a small ranching nation of 3.3 million people, seeks new markets for its commodities exports. Mr. Obama also referred to the influence of Mr. Mujica in connection to human rights issues in Latin America. Curiously, the two leaders did not publicly refer to Uruguay’s pioneering legalization of marijuana, a sweeping measure that went into effect last week. Focusing on common ground between Uruguay and the United States, Mr. Mujica, a former livestock minister, said, “I embrace all agriculturalists of this nation.”