Brasília, Novermber 22, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, speaking at commemorations of Black Consciousness Week, declared yesterday that policies developed during his administration have reduced racial cultural barriers. He cited scholarships at the foreign service school for students of African descent as an example, recalling that they were begun when he was the Foreign Minister and noted few Blacks in the Brazilian diplomatic corps.

A scholarship recipient, Delma de Andrade, called the assistance "very significant because it means that someone is investing in making my dream come true." (AB)