Brasília, December 3, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - In a speech delivered at La Moneda Palace, president-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva acknowledged the difficulties that stand in the way of Chile's full integration with the Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur). He affirmed that his administration will respect Chilean positions, but he believes that, if there is a desire to enlarge the agreements that have been established, it will be possible to find solutions, even if they are provisional ones, that will permit progress in the sense of Chile's future integration with the Mercosur.

"This is not the moment to discuss technical aspects. We want to reaffirm here our desire for a solid relationship with Chile, to seek a convergence that will allow us to deal with international difficulties in a solidary manner," he said. (DAS)