Brasília, October 17, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Minister of Defense, José Viegas, affirmed today that the Varig-TAM merger continues to be the project that gives consistency to the airlines and civil aviation. This declaration was made after the president of the National Economic and Social Development Bank (BNDES), Carlos Lessa, affirmed, in Rio de Janeiro, that the Bank might provide support to both companies, even if the merger does not go through.

Viegas underscored that the BNDES has the merger plan before it, just like the rest of the government. "What Lessa said is that everyone is free to do as he wants." (DAS)