Montevideo, Jan 24, (RHC-PL), -- Uruguayan President Jose Mujica welcomed the recent diplomatic contacts between Cuba and the United States, saying they pave the way for a more global package of trade facilities for Latin America.

After warning that even when the "sky is not totally clear," there is a more favorable situation that what we had so far. He said the improvements in the USA-CUBA relations do not end here.

Questioned about different issues at Radio Carve, Mujica clarified: "We are not going to touch the sky with our hands, but the profile of the trade relations will improve."

In that regard, he recalled that "doing business with the United States is not easy. They are very protectionist. We were 18 years, trying to sell oranges to them. It is unbelievable."

The Uruguayan president explained that "there is a strong trend within the Democratic Party, which seeks to improve the relations with all Latin American countries in a way or another."

Regarding the talks between Cuba and the United States, which concluded Thursday in Havana, Mujica said they could be the beginning of a new process in the US relationship with Latin America, but it is still far from something that could produce magical results.