Nelson Motta
Repórter Agencia Brasil

Brasilia – Yesterday president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met with the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Rodrigo de Rato, to celebrate the anticipation of a debt payment by Brazil. The country liquidated its US$15.5 billion debt with the IMF two years ahead of time in December. All the members of the government's economic team were present at the ceremony, along with other cabinet members.

According to Lula, Brazil was showing its economic independence. "A country is independence only when it walks on its own legs and grows with its own resources," he said.

Lula said the moment is a special one because Brazil is showing the fund that it is on track to solid economic stability. "Like our economy, our democracy is solid and dynamic. And both reflect the maturity of the Brazilian people," said the president.

Translation: Allen Bennett