Montevidéu - Speaking at the XXV Mercosur Council meeting yesterday, president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva repeated his promise that the Brazilian government will do everything it can to assist the economic block. "Working for Mercosur is working in favor of development for all the member countries, whether they have big or small economies," said Lula.

In concluding his speech to the other heads of state present at the meeting, Lula called for improving the forms of financing development in South America with support from development banks such as Brazil's Development Bank, the BNDES - Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social. (AB)