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."