Itinga (Minas Gerais), 1/13/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - According to presidential Chief of Staff, minister José Dirceu, the trip to Brazil's poor regions by president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his cabinet is proof that the new government has public support to move ahead with its social projects. "The country wants to, needs to and will combat poverty. We have the resources to do this," he said.

Dirceu pointed out that the trip to poor communities in Teresina (Piaui), Recife (Pernambuco) and Vale do Jequtinhonha (Minas Gerais) demonstrated that development plans drawn up in Brasilia will follow parameters based on the reality in those locations.

"The idea is for government planners to think of Brasília Teimosa, in Recife, Teresina and the Vila Irmã Dulce slum, and Itinga, in the Vale do Jequtinhonha. That is the reality we need to keep in mind as we formulate policy," said Dirceu. (AB)