Washington, 12/10/2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Brazil's ambassador in the US, Rubens Fonseca, reports that topics of discussion have not been defined for today's meeting between president-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the president of the United States, George W. Bush. The agenda is open, but will probably include the Free Trade Area of the Americas and barriers which hinder the entrance of Brazilian goods in the US market, says the ambassador.

Barbosa declared that the meeting is a sign of US respect for the recent Brazilian elections and its democratic process, besides recognition of Brazil's leading role in South America. "The Bush administration is saying it wants to expand talks and relations with Brazil," he concluded. (AB)