Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) - There are neither winners nor losers in the outcome of the referendum held in Venezuela on President Hugo Chávez's mandate, and the country emerges stronger by solidifying the democratic process. This is the declaration made by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, after meeting separately in the Santo Domingo Meliá Hotel, where he is staying, with the President of Guatemala, Oscar Berger, and the recently named Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Miguel Ángel, ex-President of Costa Rica. Ángel, who takes office on September 23, will replace César Gavíria.

For President Lula, the winners must have great humility and the losers, great serenity, and both government and opposition should have a single objective, the country's future. Brazil played an important role in the Venezuelan crisis, because it always believed in a peaceful solution. Lula said that he was never at any moment pessimistic about what could happen in the neighboring country and that now the nation can make exceptional progress.

From Santo Domingo, where he traveled to attend the inauguration of the new President of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fernández Reyna, President Lula spoke on the telephone with the Venezuelan President, Hugo Chávez. He conveyed the solidarity of the Brazilian government and thanked Chávez for respecting all the decisions of the Friends of Venezuela group, which included opponents of the Venezuelan government, such as the United States and France, alongside friends, such as Brazil, Mexico, Portugal, and Chile.

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Lourival Antonio de Macedo
Translator: David Silberstein
08/17/2004