Published on ShanghaiDaily.com (http://www.shanghaidaily.com/)
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200901/20090104/article_386876.htm
Hopes too high for 'sincere' Obama
Created: 2009-1-4
UNITED States President-elect Barack Obama appears to be an honest and sincere man, but his election has awakened "excessive hopes" that the US will change, believes Cuban President Raul Castro.
Castro repeated previous assertions that he was open to talks at any time with Obama, but said in a televised interview on Friday that he was not desperate to do so.
"Now there is a president who has raised hopes in many parts of the world ?? I think excessive hopes," he said.
"Even if he's an honest man ?? and I believe he is ?? a sincere man ?? and I believe he is ?? one man alone cannot change the destiny of a country and much less the United States," Castro added.
"I hope I'm mistaken in my assessment. I hope Mr Obama has success," he said. "He can do much. He can put a stop to the tendency of almost all US presidents to have their war, or wars," he said.
Castro repeated previous assertions that he was open to talks at any time with Obama, but said in a televised interview on Friday that he was not desperate to do so.
"Now there is a president who has raised hopes in many parts of the world ?? I think excessive hopes," he said.
"Even if he's an honest man ?? and I believe he is ?? a sincere man ?? and I believe he is ?? one man alone cannot change the destiny of a country and much less the United States," Castro added.
"I hope I'm mistaken in my assessment. I hope Mr Obama has success," he said. "He can do much. He can put a stop to the tendency of almost all US presidents to have their war, or wars," he said.
Agencies
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