Brasília, 27 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Vice president Marco Maciel, speaking at the XII Congress of Commerce Associations of Brazil, said that the government's balance sheet was positive, citing the public support for resolving national problems, such as the exchange rate crisis of 1999 and the last year's energy crisis.

Maciel said that Brazil will have prominent place in the XXI Century if it can consolidate Mercosur, strengthen ties with the European Union, and succeed in negotiations at the World Trade Organization and in dealing with the formation of the Free Trade Area of the Americas. (AB)