Brasília, 1/14/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The principal objective of the talks today between president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the president of Argentina, Eduardo Duhalde, is to strengthen Mercosur.

According to presidential spokesman, Andre Singer, Lula wants to begin talks on the customs union, improved flow of goods in the free trade zone, possible macroeconomic coordination and interesting international organizations in the block.

Singer says that one way of strengthening Mercosur under discussion is the formation of a regional parliament. (AB)