Carolina Pimentel
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília – Tomorrow president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will begin his fifth trip to Africa where his visits this time will be Algeria, Benin, Botswana and South Africa. He will return to Brazil on February 12.

In his weekly radio broadcast this morning, Lula said that one of the main commitments of his administration has been to strengthen ties with the African continent.

Lula said this was probably going to be his last trip during his term of office. He added that he hoped the next president would keep Africa at the top of his list of priorities. "Africa deserves our respect," he declared.

During the trip Lula will sign agreements on forest management, improvements in cotton genetics, and the prevention and control of AIDS and malaria.

With this trip, Lula will have visited a total of 17 African countries.

Translation: Allen Bennett