New York, 12/10/2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Yesterday president Fernando Henrique Cardoso declared that president-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva should be as frank as possible in his meeting with George W. Bush today. Cardoso said the first meeting was a chance to show what kind of president he was going to be. "Lula can talk about his career, show Bush that he comes from a working class background, became a leader and has been in politics for many years," said Cardoso.

"I believe Lula will honor contracts and the agreements with the IMF. He said he would do that before he was elected. There is no reason now to doubt that. Anyone who doubts that now is not acting in favor of Brazil," said Cardoso. (AB)