Telemundo "Levántate" - Transcript

Interview

Translated English Transcript

Democracy in the Region

Telemundo's Vanessa Arias: "This year, the two central themes at the Summit of the Americas will be seeking ways to combat drug trafficking and the participation or the exclusion of non-democratic countries like Cuba. Florida Senator Marco Rubio is already in Colombia. Senator, thank you very much for being with us."

Senator Marco Rubio: "Thank you, thank you."

Arias: "Senator Rubio, one of the central themes of the summit is definitely Cuba. Many countries say this should be the last summit without Cuba, including the President of Brazil who told President Obama this on Monday. The position of the United States is clear that non-democratic countries should not attend the summit. What is your opinion?"

Rubio: "My opinion is the same as the President's, that only democracies should be involved here. I would like Cuba to participate in a future summit because I want Cuba to be a democracy in the future. Unfortunately at this time, it is not.

"This is not the time for the Latin American region to pull back on issues of democracy that we have advanced in the past 20 years. We have seen, for example, here in Colombia, what democracy has been able to achieve for the Colombian people in economic and political terms. Now is not the time to abandon that cause. I believe that accepting a dictatorship like Cuba, a dictatorship that has no intention whatsoever to change, would be a very negative message to the region and the democracies in the region."

Drug Trafficking

Arias: "Another key issue to be discussed is how to combat drug trafficking, including a way that have never been discussed at a summit before, drug legalization. What do you think?"

Rubio: "Well, first off I understand the frustration that exists in many countries about this issue. There have been many deaths, many families who have suffered greatly over the loss of life and the violence surrounding drugs. I do not think that legalization is the solution. I do believe the United States has a joint commitment as the consumer market to help our allies in the region to fight against these criminal organizations. So I think that we must remain committed to that cause. We have seen progress, for example, Colombia is an example of what we can do together with the progress that Colombia has had on the war against criminal organizations."

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