Brasília, 3 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Minister of Planning, Budget and Management, Guilherme Dias, declared yesterday that the present market nervousness "is being caused by an erroneous perception of Brazil." Dias says "the market perception is not connected to reality," adding that what Brazil needs at this moment "is to persist in obtaining fiscal surpluses."

Asked if the conquest of a fifth World Soccer Cup will help resolve Brazilian economic problems, Dias responded that "it will neither help nor perturb." In soccer, just like the present situation, he said, "you win some and lose some, but you never give up hope." (AB)