Brasília, 3/11/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The undersecretary for Bilateral Policy at Itamaraty, Gilberto Saboia, says that the meeting in Brasilia of the Friends of Venezuela Group was positive with the group deciding to play an "auxiliary role, because we cannot substitute Venezuelan institutions," said Saboia.

With regard to the demand by the Chavez opposition for the Organization of American States to take a more active role and mediate the crisis, Saboia said that would only be considered if both the anti-Chavez and pro-Chavez groups wanted it. Saboia concluded by saying that the group is presently drawing up a report on the situation in Venezuela. (AB)