Rio, November 21, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The president of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn, speaking at the Latin American Business Summit, declared that Brazil cannot be compared with Argentina, or any other country, as is erroneously done by people who do not know what they are talking about. "I believe this is the moment to look at cases of countries with difficulties separately. We cannot let problems in one country overshadow problems in another country. That is a step backwards," he said.

He said his thinking is in line with that of president Fernando Henrique Cardoso and his wife, Dona Ruth, and that he was optimistic about the new government. Lula should be seen as an exporession of the will of the people, a source of hope, not pessimism for Brazil, said Wolfensohn. (AB)