NEWS IN ENGLISH -  Obama arrives at Palacio do Planalto

Wellton Máximo and Luciana Lima Reporters Agência Brasil

Brasilia – At 10:27, US president, Barack Obama, stepped out of his car in front of the Palacio do Planalto. He passed the presidential guard in review, the American flag was raised, and then he walked up the ramp to shake hands with president Dilma Rousseff and Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota.  National anthems were played, there was a 21-gun salute.

A group of 20 young students from a public school waved flags of Brazil and the United States. Security arrangements placed the public at a distance of some 300 meters (across the mall near the Supreme Court, on the other side of the Congress building).

While the president was reviewing the troops, Michelle Obama entered the palace through a side door and was also waiting for Obama at the top of the ramp beside Dilma and Patriota. After the greeting ceremonies and visiting an exposition of paintings by Brazilian women, Michelle will leave for events that are part of her own separate schedule in Brasilia.

Meanwhile, Dilma and Obama will get down to work with a private meeting, followed by another wider meeting with ministers and aides. These meetings will decide the fate of various agreements, treaties and memorandums the two governments are negotiating.

At approximately noon, Dilma and Obama will make joint statements. It is still not clear whether or not there will be questions allowed from the media. The presidents will then go to the Itamaraty Palace (Foreign Ministry) for a series of events with business leaders and lunch.

Allen Bennett – translator/editor The News in English

Link - Obama deixa o hotel e segue para o Palácio do Planalto, onde se reunirá com Dilma

Link - Barack Obama chega ao Palácio do Planalto

Link - Dilma e Patriota recebem Obama no Palácio do Planalto