Brasília, 1/6/2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, speaking at Itamaraty, as he received the 2003 Notre Dame Award together with former president Fernando Henrique Cardoso for the way they both conducted the administrative transition of the country, declared that the transition was proof of Brazilian capacity to exercise democracy. "We gave the world a good example. Two presidents who ran against each other in elections maintained a relationship based on mutual respect and friendship. That is really something here in Brazil where political leaders rarely speak to each other," said Lula.

According to Lula, anyone who knows Brazilian history knows what an important fact that was. He added that the relationship with Cardoso, between October and December 2002, was a lesson in how to strengthen a democratic tradition. Lula said he hoped to further improve that tradition when he hands over the presidency to his successor. "What politicians must understand is that democracy belongs to all the people, not to any one individual. The people have earned their democracy through great suffering. We have to make sure that future generations of Brazilian politicians understand that," said the president.

Former president, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, who received the Notre Dame Prize together with Lula, declared that "The transition occurred in a spirit of commitment to and respect for democratic order and the values of the republic."

The Notre Dame Prize has been awarded since 2000 to Latin Americans who contribute to continental well-being. It is sponsored by the university's Kellog Institute for International Studies and the Coca-Cola Foundation. Lula and Cardoso each received US$10,000. Lula will donate his prize money to the Zero Hunger program, Cardoso will give part of his prize to the Programa Comunitas, formerly known as the Solidarity Community program. (AB)