Brasília, November 18, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Parliamentary representatives from 35 countries in the Americas will be in Brasilia this week for discussions on their participation in the formation of the Free Trade Area of the Americas.

According to the president of the Chamber of Deputies, which is sponsoring the event, Aécio Neves (PSDB/Minas Gerais), because any FTAA negotiations will have to have parliamentary approval it is important to discuss the process and unify procedures, making them as transparent as possible, along with bringing the issue to the public's attention. (AB)