Brasília, December 5, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva spoke with the president of the Central Bank, Armínio Fraga, for about an hour and a half today, upon disembarking in Brasília, on a flight from São Paulo. The conversation took place in the hanger of the Voetur Company, near the Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport. The meeting was confirmed by the president-elect's press adviser, Ricardo Kotscho, at the Torto Farm (alternative presidential residence occupied by the president-elect during his stays in Brasília).

According to Kotscho, the two discussed the country's economic situation. He once again affirmed that Armínio Fraga will not continue in the post in the next administration. Kotscho also said that the airport encounter, in which the national president of the party, deputy José Dirceu (SP), also participated, was set up by the general coordinator of the transition team, Antônio Palocci. (DAS)