Brasilia, November 20, 2002 (Agencia Brasil ABr) - Pointing out that a contract worth US$24 billion is involved, the coordinator of the goverment-elect's transition team, Antonio Palocci, says that president-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's administration will treat its relationship with the International Monetary Fund with the utmost seriousness.

As for some members of the PT who have expressed opposition to the IMF agreement, Palocci said the US$24 billion contract was with Brazil, not the PT. (AB)