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| US President |
"The Kenyan people just hold a very special place
in the president's heart," declared Ben Rhodes, ..........Does it mean Obama cant be able to say so personally?
By KEVIN KELLEY, NATION Correspondent in New York
Posted
Saturday, June 22
2013 at
11:59
In Summary
- President Obama is due to visit Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania next week in an Africa tour that will bypass Kenya, his ancestral homeland.
President Obama is due to visit Senegal, South
Africa and Tanzania next week in an Africa tour that will bypass Kenya,
his ancestral homeland.
"The Kenyan people just hold a very special place
in the president's heart," declared Ben Rhodes, spokesman for the US
National Security Council.
"The close partnership the US has had with Kenya for decades will certainly continue," Mr Rhodes said.
The official was speaking at a press briefing in
response to a reporter's question of whether Mr Obama's decision to
bypass Kenya is tied to the International Criminal Court case involving
President Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto.
"We respect the sovereign right of the Kenyan
people to choose their own leaders," Mr Rhodes said. The US will work
with President Kenyatta."
Making reference to the ICC indictments, Mr Rhodes
further commented: "It wasn't the best time for the president to travel
to Kenya at this point."
"The Kenyan government will continue to work through the issues it has with the international community," he said.
In response to a separate question as to whether
Mama Sarah might meet Mr Obama during his visit to Tanzania, Mr Rhodes
said: "I am not aware of any plans to see his grandmother."
The spokesman noted that Auma Obama, the president's Kenyan half-sister, had attended Mr Obama's recent speech in Berlin as well as the state dinner.
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