São Paulo, 12/17/2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Yesterday president-elect, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, received the Brazilian of the Year award ("Brasileiro do Ano") from the publishing house, Editora Três, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. In expressing his thanks for the award, Lula said there were many other Brazilians who could have received it. He dedicated it to the Brazilian people. And he repeated a phrase used during the presidential campaign: "[When I was young] I survived doing only what was necessary, which was to survive. As an adult I did what was possible to survive. And today, as I receive this award, I think I have managed to do the impossible." Lula added that what was happening today in Brazil was a landmark in its history and the history of its democracy. (AB)