Transcript of Senator John McCain's interview with Radio Caracol Miami.

[mp3 audio]

Senator, talk about now Latin American. There are a lot of countries that are in trouble right now. I'm going to mention the countries
and I want you tell me what you think about
the United States should do, if you are elected president, what do you do
regarding those countries.
Let's start with Venzuela.

Mm hmm /

What do you do- what do you think you should do with Venezuela if you are elected president?

I think Venezuela is a compelling argument for energy independence /
I would not sit down with uh president
uh Hugo Chavez /
uh as Senator Obama said that he would do, without precondition /
and I would do everything in my power to-
to support democracy
and freedom and human rights in Venezuela /
as we know
uh pre- uh Hugo Chavez is moving towards a
uh autocracy in Venezuela / and depriving people
of their democratic rights \

We should- do you think that we should (()) - uh the United States should ignore the comments that Hugo Chavez
made every time he talk about the United States?

I think we should not dignify
uh Hugo Chavez
in any way \
and we should become independent of foreign oil /
and we should advocate
for- strongly for
the preservation of democracy in Venezuela \

What do you think about Bolivia, the situation that is going on right now there?

I- I think it's very similar to- uh- with Morales as it is with Chavez /
uh
they are very similar /
and
I would basically say the same thing \
And uh our advocacy for democracy and human rights
throughout uh the region \
means we should be paying
a lot more attention to the region /
we should sup- be supporting President Uribe in Columbia /
we should be in support of free trade agreements /
and Senator Obama has opposed the free trade agreements \
I support them \
It'll be good for the economies and good for democracy \

Many people have the feeling, Senator, that- that Latin American is ignored in Washington.
If you're elected president, what do you do to
not forget Latin American?

Pay more attention /
I know the issues, I know the leaders \
Senator Obama has never been south of our border in his entire life \
I understand, and will pay much more attention to the region \

Since you are here in Miami
let's talk about Cuba. What do you think ((you)) should happen in Cuba, or the United States ((to)) handle the situation with Cuba?

I think that uh
uh
Raul Castro has just shown /
by refusing humanitarian assistance to his people /
that he cares more about power than his people /
And I think it's very disappointing that he has done so /
And we have to maintain our advocacy
of uh free elections
human rights organizations functioning, and emptying
the prisons of political prisoners \

Senator, finally, let's talk about Spain. If you're elected president, would you be willing to invite
President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero to the White House?
To meet with you?

I would be willing to meet uh with
those leaders who
our friends and want to work with us in a cooperative fashion \
And by the way, President Calderon of Mexico
is uh fighting a- a very very tough fight against
um the drug cartels /
I'm glad we are now working
in cooperation with the Mexican government on the Meri- Merida plan /
and I intend to move forward
with relations and
invite as many of them as I can
of those leaders to the White House \

Would that invitation be extended to the Zapatero uh government?
To the president, itself?

Uh I don't- I- you know, honestly I have to look at the relations and the situations and the priorities but
I can assure you \
I will establish closer relations with our friends \
and I will stand up
uh to those who want to do harm to the United States of America \
I know how to do both \

So you have to wait and see if uh
he's willing to- to meet with you, or you'll be able to do it?
In the White House?

Well, again, I d- I don't
((heh)) all I can tell you is that I have a clear record of working with leaders
in the hemisphere that are friends with us /
and standing up to those who are not / and
that's judged on the
basis of the importance of our relationship
with Latin America \
And the entire region \

OK, what about you, I'm talking about the President of Spain.

What about me what? \

OK, are you willing to meet with him if you're elected president?

I am willing to meet with any leader \
who is dedicated to the same principles and philosophy
that we are \ for human rights, democracy, and freedom \
And I will stand up to those that do not \

Finally, Senator, can you say um um
um um um (( )) {exhales} I forgot the word
say hello to the listener of Caracol Radio?
((it's just))

Uh thank you to the listeners and thank you all for
being involved in this election, which is one of the most important elections in history
And the state of Florida would probably one of those states that decides
the future uh president of the United States. I'll work hard here
I love the state, and that's wonderful to be back.