Cuiabá, 29 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, in a speech on Wednesday(27), at the inauguration of the Sérgio Motta bridge, declared that his administration is carrying out a peaceful and non-violent land reform program. Without referring directly to the recent invasions by the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST), Cardoso said the program was moving ahead independent of MST aggression. "I have expropriated more than 20 million hectares," said the president, pointing out that it was the biggest land reform in the modern world.

Cardoso went on to say that Brazil is united in a great economic and social development project with the objective of improving the lives of the people. (AB)