São Paulo, 8/15/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Brazilian airline company, TAM, through a press release, reports that even though the company president, Daniel Mandelli, resigned yesterday for personal reasons, the merger with Varig is moving ahead. According to the note, "As explained in a prior press release, the TAM Administrative Council continues merger negotiations with Varig. The merger is seen as essential to the consolidation of commercial aviation in Brazil." (AB)