Curitiba, July 17, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Yesterday (16), the governor of Paraná, Roberto Requião, expressed total support for the opinions expressed by the governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Germano Rigotto, who represented the governors of the southern region of Brazil at a meeting, Tuesday (15), with Minister José Dirceu, of the Presidential Advisory Staff, Ricardo Berzoini, Minister of Social Security, and Luiz Gushiken, from the Presidential Communications Office, to discuss Social Security reform.

According to Requião, the other governors from the South are also in favor of Rigotto's views, which coincide with reform proposals already debated at a meeting with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. "We are allies of Lula's Administration. We want to help with these reforms, which are both possible and necessary, and more important for the states than for the federal government, and very important for Brazil."

Requião insisted that Parana's representatives in Congress are tied to the national interest, and he believes that the Administration enjoys a solid and consistent majority in Congress, which is proposing measures that will be good for the country. "There is a tremendous desire to help to improve the country. Obviously, Paraná has things to claim from the federal government, but they will be dealt with after the reforms are approved," he affirmed.

"I want Lula's government to be a good one, for the country to move ahead, and for this chapter of reforms to end, so that we can move on with the discussion of getting development back underway in Brazil," he stated. (DAS)