Brasília, November 21, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - André Singer, spokesman for the president-elect, affirmed today that Lula has insisted, since the beginning of the presidential campaign, that his administration "will try to maintain the best possible relations with the United States." According to the spokesman, the United States "will surely understand that Lula's administration will do for Brazil what the US does for the American people - which is to defend their self-interests." (DAS)