SAO PAULO, Jan 21: Barack Obama’s ascension to the US presidency was widely welcomed in Latin America as a chance for improved ties with Washington, though some leftist nations expressed scepticism that any real changes would come.

The authorities of Cuba, Venezuela and Argentina reacted with none of the excitement seen in other parts of the region.

Cuban National Assembly speaker Ricardo Alarcon called Obama’s inauguration speech “very interesting”, but said the new president’s capacity to fulfil his promise of change “remains for me a big question mark”. Cuba’s strongest ally, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, said that, while he hoped Obama “will represent a true change in relations with countries in the third world.... no one here holds any illusions. This is the US Empire we’re talking about.”

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro criticised Obama for remarks he made in a television interview last week accusing Chavez of blocking progress in Latin America and “exporting terrorist activities”.

“We cannot accept Obama’s words. We reject them, regret them and hope a correction will be made... for a false and unfortunate declaration that offends the Venezuelans and shows a total ignorance of what is the new reality in Latin America,” Maduro told reporters.

Argentine President Cristina Kirchner, who was visiting Cuba the day of Obama’s inauguration, said she appreciated “with intelligence and rationality” the “special moment” of seeing a new and popular US president take power.

Obama’s speech, she said, confirmed “high expectations” and acknowledged “the changes that have happened in this world.”

Elsewhere in Latin America, the response to seeing a black president take charge of the United States elicited enthusiasm from a melting-pot region where racial tensions are everyday fare in many countries.

Bolivia, aligned with Cuba and Venezuela, concentrated on that historic fact, which spoke to its own conflict between an indigenous majority and an economic elite of European descent.

The Bolivia government “salutes this historic happening and expresses an authentic feeling of hope that the new government, headed by a black president, will represent a new principle in the relationship between the United States, Latin America and Bolivia”, Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca said.

That optimism could quickly translate into changed diplomatic ties.

Bolivia and Venezuela last September expelled the US ambassadors to their capitals, accusing the administration of former president George Bush of interference. Washington retaliated by ordering out the Venezuelan and Bolivian envoys.

Meanwhile, Mexican President Felipe Calderon wished “the greatest success” to Obama and said he was confident the new US leader would work to overcome the financial crisis to in turn help Mexico, which is economically dependent on its northern neighbour.

Colombia’s government, a privileged ally of Bush’s, said it hoped Obama’s arrival would not signal any change to the billions of dollars in US military aid flowing into the country since 2000. US Democrats have signalled unease at ties between violent rightwing paramilitary groups in Colombia and the army, leading to speculation that Obama’s government might slash that aid.

“I am confident President Obama will continue to support us. He is very firm in the fight against terrorism,” Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos said.—AFP