Berlin, 1/28/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, speaking to some 200 Brazilians at the Brazilian embassy in Berlin yesterday, declared that he is willing to talk with anyone from any school of thought if that will result in some benefit for Brazil.

According to Lula, Brazil has to learn to believe in its potential. "We are not just any old people, or any old economy. We are a big country."

The president declared that he felt "spiritually renewed," after freely expressing his opinions at such different meetings as the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, and the World Economic Forum in Davos. (AB)