São Paulo, 26 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Minister of Agriculture Pratini de Moraes attended Monday the swearing in ceremony of the new board of directors of the Brazilian Rural Society, which is presided by João de Almeida Sampaio Filho. In his speech, Pratini declared that international negotiations should prioritize agricultural products. "If there isn't a greater opening of markets to agricultural products, I see no reason for negotiations, either with the FTAA, nor with the European Union," he said, adding that currently Brazil is closer to the EU, "which buys almost 50% of the exports of Brazilian agribusiness."

The minister added that "the Brazilian Rural Society has been a great partner to the Ministry of Agriculture, the federal government in general and states in the formulation of agricultural policies, in the discussion of commercialization problems and in the change of course of the various policies that need to be adjusted to the reality of the moment." (MW)