Washington, 6/23/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - During their meeting on Friday, presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and George W. Bush affirmed their commitment to conclude negotiations for the creation of the Free Trade Area of the Americas by January 2005. That is, within the original timetable, in spite of a series of impasses, such as agriculture and government procurement.

According to minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim, the two chiefs of state agreed on the need to liberalize trade and reduce trade barriers so both countries can develop. "It was not a meeting for negotiations. The FTAA only got a passing mention. But both countries consider the FTAA to be very important," said the minister.

Amorim went on to explain that Brazil does not want its economy "massacred" by developed countries after it removes trade barriers. He said that Lula told Bush that, "Countries with big, strong economies must be generous with weaker, more fragile economies." (AB)