Brasília, 1/14/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The president of Argentina, Eduardo Duhalde, begins an official visit to Brazil today at the Palácio do Planalto with a meeting with president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the ministers of Agricultura, Roberto Rodrigues, presidential Chief of Staff, José Dirceu, Development, Luiz Fernado Furlan, and Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim. From Argentina, ministers Carlos Ruckauf, Foreign Relations, Roberto Lavagna, Economy, and Anibal Fernandez, Production, among other authorities, will also attend the meeting.

One of the principal topics of discussion will be the Mercosur crisis. (AB)