Brasília, December 3, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Speaking today at a ceremony to confer the Federal Government Quality award, President Fernando Henrique Cardoso highlighted the changes registered in the civil service in recent years. According to the president, the government fought hard to implement changes in the public sector, traditionally seen as inoperative by a large parcel of the population. The changes are currently reflected in the quality of the services available. "All that is innovative takes hard work and provokes strong opposition. There are those who are afraid and shut themselves off, and, until the innovation becomes routine, it faces strong resistance," he pointed out. (DAS)