Lugar meets with Chilean President Sebastián Piñera

On April 12, U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar met with Chilean President Sebastián Piñera on his first visit to Washington as president to attend the Nuclear Security Summit. The meeting, which took place in Lugar’s office, also was attended by six Members of Chile’s Congress.

 

“My deep interest in Chile began 21 years ago with the late Senator Kennedy when we established the U.S. Committee for Free Elections in Chile and helped usher in the return of democracy,” Lugar said. “Chile is a beacon of prosperity in a turbulent region and, after our meeting, I am confident this will continue under President Piñera.”

 

In the meeting, Lugar and President Piñera discussed reconstruction efforts in the aftermath of the massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Chile on February 27, and exchanged views on efforts to make the Organization of American States (OAS) a more effective defender of human rights and democracy in the Region.

 

Lugar also praised the Chileans for their work with the U.S. government to secure and remove highly enriched uranium from their reactors.

 

Last month, nearly 40 pounds of highly enriched uranium was removed from Chile in the midst of the earthquake recovery. More information on the removal of Chile’s uranium is available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/10/AR2010041002811.html.

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