Brasília, November 18, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The head of the Presidential Civilian Advisory Staff, Minister José Dirceu, said, at the closing of the the International Conference to Discuss Policies for Implementing the Goals of the Millenium, that what Brazil is doing "is trying to run against time." To explain his declaration, Dirceu gave as an example the experience of Lula's Administration, which already demonstrates that socio-political time does not wait for economic time. "Those whose rights are abused and disrespected, those who lack the right of access to wealth, who don't participate in development and the creation of wealth, don't wait," the Minister said.
The Minister of the Civilian Advisory Staff insisted on reaffirming the determination of everybody in Brazil to work to reduce social, cultural, and political inequalities. "This question is more serious in Brazil than in any other country in Latin America, because Brazil is rich, is an industrialized country with technological capacity, in lands that are fertile like no other country, with natural resources like no other country, as well as biodiversity. Brazil is living proof that growth is not enough, because this country grew 7% a year for 30 years," Dirceu affirmed.
Great social and political advances were achieved, Minister Dirceu said. He cited the example of the consolidation, year by year, of democratic institutions, even given the long road that still exists. He recalled that the government has placed judicial reform and the reform of the country's political institutions on the agenda. "To grow with income distribution. That is the great challenge, to have a national development project, a project of economic, political, and socio-cultural development with social inclusion. I believe that the force of President Lula's leadership in Brazil and the world emanates mainly from this militant action his entire life. The fight for social inclusion, the fight against poverty and misery, and the democratic commitment," Dirceu emphasized.
In his speech, the Minister of the Civilian Advisory Staff told the 26 representatives from Latin American and Caribbean countries that he believes that "the dominant classes, made up of entrepreneurs, segments of the elite, principally the segments that have been on easy terms with different forms of government over the last 20 years, that many of our countries have already reached the conclusion that there will be no democracy, peace, or economic growth without the questioning of poverty and misery, without social inclusion." (DAS)
