Brasília, November 20, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Aécio Neves (PSDB), president of the Chamber of Deputies and governor-elect of Minas Gerais, said that from now on the creation of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) will become a central theme for legislatures in all American countries. "It is a moment for reflection on the future," he affirmed after breakfast with legislators from Brazil and the 35 countries that are participating in the Parliamentary Summit on Continental Integration, which is being held in Brasília.

As for the president-elect's inauguration date, Aécio Neves said that next Tuesday's (26) meeting of the Special Commission of the Chamber will be decisive. "If we find that the House lacks an ample consensus to approve a change in the inauguration date for this mandate, I intend to propose an amendment that would provide for a vote on the matter this year, but to take effect only four years from now, which in my opinion is already a big step forward," he said. (DAS)