Brasília, September 17, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Following a series of meetings on Tuesday with representives of the 3 government branches to request that a plebiscite be held on the creation of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), representatives of the National Coordinating Committee of the anti-FTAA Campaign went to the Planalto Palace to present their demands to the head of the Presidential General Secretariat, Minister Luiz Dulci. The Minister filled in for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who was returning from an official visit to Colombia. The movement wants official government sponsorship for a plebiscite to sound the opinion of Brazilian citizens on the creation of the FTAA.

The campaign is also calling for a vote on the project written by ex-Senator Saturnino Braga, proposing that discussions on the FTAA be tabled for 20 years. Other items requested by the movement are an audit of Brazil's foreign debt and withdrawal of a bill authorizing commercial use of the Alcântara Missile Launching Base, in Maranhão. "The Minister heard us and said that the Administration has many concerns that are similar to ours but is not necessarily going to do what the campaign wants. Nevertheless, we hope that our document will be delivered to President Lula and that we have an opportunity to converse with him in order to show the importance of this plebiscite," one of the coordinators of the campaign, Luiz Bassegio, pointed out.

In an official note, Dulci affirmed that, at the meeting, he reaffirmed Lula's Administration's commitment to engage different social movements in a dialogue, respecting their independence and autonomy. "President Lula's Administration, with serenity and firmness, has given repeated demonstrations of its defense of Brazilian interests and the affirmation of national sovereignty," the Minister said in the note. Dulci recalled that the Administration's affirmative attitude, without "sectarian" tendencies, has helped guarantee Brazil's success in its dealings within the Mercosur, in negotiations over the FTAA, and at the recent meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The Minister assured the protestors that their grievances with respect to the FTAA will be delivered to President Lula. For the coordinators of the movement, the meetings held during the course of the day will have practical consequences in the government and the Chamber of Deputies. "Our expectation is that a dialogue will be generated over our request for a plebiscite. The most advanced countries conduct plebiscites. There is no reason not to hold a plebiscite. Through a plebiscite, the government seeks the backing of the nation, and that is what we want," Bassegio emphasized. (DAS)