Lisbon, 7/11/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva says that he will take a message of solidarity to Africa when he goes there next month. "I want to personally express Brazil's commitment to helping our African brothers to find the path to peace and development," said Lula during a dinner in Lisbon which was offered by president Jorge Sampaio.

At the beginning of August, Lula is scheduled to make his first trip to Africa, visiting Angola, Mozambique, South Africa, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Namíbia.

Lula declared that he is counting on Portugal to join Brazil in helping Africa, especially the Portuguese-speaking nations there. "We have profound links to the peoples of Africa. Our ties are historical, cultural and linguistic. Brazil and Portugal have the means and a special responsibility in strengthening the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP)," said the president of Brazil.

The CPLP has become a collective effort in cooperation, trade and investment. On the political front, the CPLP had an important role in the independence process of East Timor, as well as the ceasefire in Guine-Bissau. "We have good reason to invest more in the CPLP, making it stronger, improving its statutes and expanding its role in international affairs," concluded Lula. (AB)