Bolivian president calls on Obama to lift embargo against Cuba

Bolivian President Evo Morales speaks at

a news conference in La Paz, Bolivia, on Dec. 23, 2008. Morales called for

the United States withdraw from Iraq and raise the blockade of Cuba.

(Chinese media Photo)
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LA PAZ, Dec. 23 (Chinese media) -- Bolivian President Evo

Morales on Tuesday called on U.S. President-elect Barack Obama to lift the

economic embargo against Cuba, saying the move would make him a "world leader."

"Everybody demands the lifting of the economic

embargo against Cuba. If he (Obama) lifts it, he will truly be a leader of the

world, and it will help the image of the U.S. people," Morales told foreign

reporters in the Government Palace.

Cuba has been under a U.S. trade embargo since 1961.

Americans are barred from traveling to the Caribbean nation unless they have

government clearance.

Morales affirmed that he "respects the decision of

the U.S. people" and considers possible an understanding between La Paz and

Washington "to surpass the bilateral differences" when Obama takes office

"Some said that George W. Bush did not understood nor

attend Latin America, but with the new president, Obama, the ties between the

United States and the region will change," Morales said.

Morales said that he had also met with U.S.

legislators and explained why he expelled U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg from

Bolivia.

In September, Morales ordered Goldberg to

"immediately" leave the country, accusing him of "heading the division" by

encouraging, together with the opposition, protests against his government.

Washington has called the accusations "baseless."