Brasília - Chilean soldiers were among the first to arrive in Haiti after the departure of former president Aristide. In the near future, Brazilian soldiers should join them as part of the peace mission in that Caribbean nation.

In order to get reliable information on the situation there, the Brazilian Ministry of Defense will be in permanent contact with Chilean officials. The offer for the exchange of information was made by the Chilean minister of Defense, Michelle Bachelet, during a meeting in Brasilia with president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. "With Chilean soldiers there during the first phase of stability operations we will be able to receive good information on the risks involved," declared minister of Defense, Jose Viegas.

There are plans to send 1,100 Brazilian soldiers to Haiti during a second stage; that is, after the hostilities have ceased. "We await more precise details from the UN on the number of men needed and what their mission will be," explained Viegas.

Last week the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, said that he would like Brazil to have command of the peace mission in Haiti during the second phase. The Chilean minister of Defense said that Chile would support a Brazilian commander. But Viegas said it was still too early to be talking about commanders, without a full understanding of therequirements of the mission. (AB)