Brasília, March 11, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States, General Richard Myers, told the Brazilian press, yesterday (10), that Brazil is expected to assume leadership of the peace process in Haiti and that this leadership is welcome. The general discussed the situation in Haiti and Brazilian assistance with the Minister of Defense, José Viegas.
"It is a known fact that Brazil is thinking about assuming the leadership role, and this is welcomed by the other countries, because we know that the Brazilian armed forces are well trained and prepared," the general said.
The Minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim, stated today that he is awaiting a formal invitation from the United Nations for Brazil to lead the peace force that will be sent to Haiti. "Brazil has already made a political decision to participate, and we have even been approached by other Latin American countries that want to join us." Amorim made these declarations during a collective interview following the official visit made by the Chancellor of Colombia, Carolina Barco, to the Itamaraty (Ministry of Foreign Relations).
VISIT
General Myers arrived in Brasília on Tuesday (9) for conversations with Brazilian defense officials on matters such as borders, terrorism, and military cooperation. Before that, he stopped over in Manaus, where he received a report on the operations of the Sivam, the Surveillance System for the Amazon.
Myers said he is unaware of any current or future American secret military mission in the Amazon region, but he wants to know what back-up activities are carried out in the triple frontier region and in other areas in which arms, including biological weapons, can be captured.
The military officer also expressed a desire to find out where and how negotiations are conducted to launder money that finances terrorism. According to Myers, the war on terrorism is not only a military matter. In his view, success in the fight against terrorism depends, first, upon the educational, political, and economic question.
Myers asserted that Brazil and the United States are discussing the regulation of the Brazilian law that permits shooting down clandestine aircraft in Brazilian air space. The law has still not been regulated and can clash with other countries' laws.
According to the general, in American law only the head of State can authorize the downing of aircraft. "Reciprocal trust exists between the two countries; it's a question of complying with American domestic law," the general said.
This is the American general's second visit to Brazil. Today he proceeds to Argentina and Paraguay. (DAS)
