In his morning press briefing at the National Palace, the president addressed the exclusions of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua from the meeting organized by the Government of the United States in Los Angeles, California, in June.

The president said that there is still time to rectify, and criticized some mercenary conservative journalists, who play into the hands of those in the United States who encourage that exclusion.

Lopez Obrador added that his position of not attending the summit and sending Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard on his behalf is already being imitated by other leaders in the region, and mentioned Bolivian President Luis Arce, who announced a similar decision.

What we are looking for, he said, is to reach an agreement so that we all can participate, and if there are differences, that there is dialogue. Why aren’t we going to talk, why are we going to exclude?

We are going to seek unity, it is convenient for us; that is what politics, diplomacy, are for; and that is what we told the US ambassador to Mexico. We will continue convincing, persuading, not to exclude anyone, so that everyone participates.

He added that other presidents have already said that they are not happy with the exclusions because they are disrespectful.

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