Brasília, November 19, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Today president Fernando Henrique Cardoso will have lunch at the Palácio do Itamaraty with participants of the Parliamentary Summit for Continental Integration. The heads of parliaments in 34 countries which are negotiating the Free Trade Area of the Americas, and Cuba, will be present.

According to the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Aecio Neves, the event will bolster talks on the FTAA, including regional integration, such as Mercosur and Nafta; tariff and non-tariff trade barriers, such as sanitary rules; the FTAA and employment levels; infrastructure, education and technological investments; and, the relationship between the executive and legislative branches in economic negotiations. (AB)