Amid rising tensions sparked by revelations of pervasive US spying on Brazil's president and others, Liliana Ayalde, the new US ambassador to Brazil, arrived in Brasilia Monday.
At her first press conference just after landing, Ayalde declined to comment on the ongoing spying scandal. Instead, she read a statement highlighting the importance of Brazil-US relations and her hopes for strengthening those ties during her mandate.
"This is an important time in our relations, full of opportunities and possibilities. Together, I am sure we can expand and deepen the many ties between our two important and great nations. Over the next years, I hope to engage Brazil's government and people to build a stronger strategic partnership for the 21st century," Ayalde said.
Ayalde, who replaces Thomas Shannon after his three-year tenure as ambassador, previously served as deputy assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, covering Cuba, Central America and the Caribbean, and as US ambassador to Paraguay from 2008 to 2011.
After revelations first came to light in July that Washington's global surveillance program targeted Brazil in particular, Shannon was summoned by Brazil's Congress, but he declined, saying he was not authorized to discuss the matter. Ensuing explanations by the US government were considered unsatisfactory.
At a recent G20 meeting in Russia, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said she asked President Barack Obama to provide an explanation. His administration did so on Wednesday, but was found lacking.
The US maintains its spying program aims to thwart terrorism, but Brazil alleges the real motive is industrial espionage, pointing to intercepted emails carrying sensitive data on Brazil's oil reserves.
Rousseff is reported to be considering canceling a scheduled trip to Washington, D.C. in October to show her discontent.
簡明釋義：由於斯諾登的影響，巴西和美國也面臨監控丑聞，新的美國大使將要好好的給巴西解釋下這個事情了。在最近的G20會議在俄羅斯舉行，巴西總統迪尒瑪·羅塞伕就問總統奧巴馬給斯諾登稜鏡門事件提供解釋。
