Madrid, 7/17/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Comments made by president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva about the US government during the Progressive Governance Conference in London have been misinterpreted, says Brazilian Foreign Minister, Celso Amorim. "What the president wanted to say was that the United States knows how to defend its interests and that Brazil should do the same thing, following the American example. I think that was clear in the declaration," explained the minister.

As for the comment that Cuba was a problem for US voters, he said the idea was that the Americans should analyze the dictatorship and repression in that country. The Brazilian position is clear. "We are in favor of human rights and are aware of what Cuba has achieved in the area of social assistance," he said. (AB)