Brasília, 1/14/2003(Agência Brasil - ABr) - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will participate in the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 25 and 26, after first attending the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre on January 24. The Social Forum was originally set up as an anti-World Economic Forum.

Presidential spokesman, Andre Singer, pointed out that Lula attended the first two World Social Forums [before he was elected president], and that attendance at the World Economic Forum in not an example of "inconsistency." Singer went on to explain that, "As president, Lula's duty is to defend Brazil's interest wherever he can, and do whatever he can to reduce the gap between rich and poor nations." (AB)