Brasília, 12/19/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - According to the president of the Central Bank, Henrique Meirelles, the performance of the Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva government in its first year in office was excellent. "The work has to go on, but the groundwork for renewed growth is in place," he declared.

Meirelles added that next year the public will have a right to demand growth. "They should demand growth," he said. (AB)