Brasília, November 20, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (popularly known as Lula) made two comments today about the Monetary Policy Committee's (Copom) decision to raise the annual prime rate from 21% to 22%. According to spokesman André Singer, Lula considers it a responsibility of the current administration to conduct economic policy until December 31. He also remarked that, in his governmental program, there is a proposal for a gradual reduction in interest rates. (DAS)