Mujica: Arias Can Say What He
Wants
Asked about the proposal of the Costa Rica
president, Oscar Arias, to remove the armed
forces, Uruguay's president, José Mujica
said his personal opinion does not matter,
because "when you are president it is not
what you want to do, it is just what you can
do".
"He has the right to think what he wants" ,
said Mujica.
The Mujica comments were made on Uruguay's
local television channel 10 responding to
the Arias letter suggesting that Paraguay
eliminate its military like Costa Rica did
in 1949.
"No matter how much you invest in its armed
forces, Uruguay can not win an arms race
against Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Chile
and Venezuela. Under the present
circumstances, helplessness is best national
security policy for its people, an inferior
military equipment that of its neighbors, "
Arias said his letter.
Arias suggested in the letter that Uruguay's
internal security can be handled by the
police and that "national security gains
nothing from a military that will never be
more powerful than its neighbors, which are
also democratic countries."
"I do not mean to disrespect the sovereignty
of a sister nation. I just want to give
advice. I see the writing on the wall
of the history of mankind: the armies are
the enemies of development, the enemies of
peace, enemies of freedom and enemies of
joy", said Arias
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