Brasilia, Apr 27 (Prensa Latina) US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice insisted Wednesday in interference and interventionist policies of the George W. Bush administration in Latin America, specially in Venezuela and Cuba.

In a speech on the US government’s foreign policy, with which Rice ended her two-day visit to Brazil, she assumed the right to decide for countries of the region, saying that “the US is committed to the success of democracy in Latin America.”

Ignoring principles of international law such as national sovereignty and self-determination, Rice added: “We, who are on the right side, feel we have to help those who are not on the side of freedom and democracy,” but she did not specify what kind of help that would be. She also warned that “if such aspirations are not taken into consideration, nobody will have peace in the future.”

Condoleezza Rice continued her attacks against Venezuela, begun on Tuesday, and said that “democratically elected governments shiould rule democratically.”

As did Brazilian President Luiz Inacio (Lula) da Silva did a month ago, when he rejected infering statements against Venezuela made by US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and expressed total support of the Brazilian government to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim expressed his disagreement with Rice.

Amorim stated in a joint press conference at the conclusion of their meeting that Brazil is a friend of the Venezuelan people, and will continue to respect its sovereignty.

Rice also attacked Cuba, a country with which US broke diplomatic relations in 1961, caused Cuba’s expulsion from the Organization of American States, imposed a crippling economic and commercial blockade against, and encouraged any kind of terrorist actions against the Caribbean island.

She alleged that Cuba “is still far away from the state of right, because of the whim of its authorities.”

Rice also strongly defended the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA) in her speech, and insisted on giving an impression that US agrees with Brazil, repeatedly calling Brazil “a partner” in the crusade started by the US government in favour of democracy.

tac/as/jwp