Rio, October 25, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Brazil will become co-president of the negotiating process for the FTAA at the ministerial summit in Quito, where Development, Industry and Foreign Trade minister, Sergio Amaral, will represent Brazil. Minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Lafer, says that Brazil will call for periodic oversight of the interests involved in the creation of the Free Trade Area of the Americas so as to keep those interests balanced. "We seek to make sure that there are advances in agriculture, as well as in services and manufactured goods," said the minister.

He also said that the Quito talks should be multilateral to ensure all have access to all benefits that are offered. Lafer reaffirmed Brazil will defend the most favoured nationa principle. (AB)