Indaiatuba (SP), May 2, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva participated, Thursday (1), in the opening ceremony of the 41st General Assembly of the National Confederation of Brazilian Bishops (CNBB), in Indaiatuba, in the interior of the state of São Paulo. The Presidential Chief-of-Staff, Luiz Dulci, said that the President addressed the situation of the country and made a "predominately positive" assessment of the Administration's first four months.

Dulci also highlighted two items that were discussed at the meeting: the Pluriannual Plan (PPA) and the Zero Hunger Program. "The President expressly invited the CNBB to collaborate with the PPA."

According to Dulci, Lula spoke to the clerics of the importance of maintaining a dialogue with the different churches, respecting the country's pluralism, and he said that he hopes for partnerships. "The government should always carry out its social programs together with civil society, and the churches have a very important job in this area," Dulci explained. (DAS)