Monterrey - The final communiqué following the Special Summit of the Americas, which is known as the Nuevo Leon Declaration, signed by the 34 leaders who attended, contains a number of items that the Brazilian government championed. Among them an emphasis on implanting unemployment insurance, minimum wages and access to healthcare, especially for treating AIDS and tropical disease such as malaria and dengue.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva declared that it was the first Americas Summit to focus on social problems, as Brazil had insisted the summit do. Lula also praised the inclusion of a clause condemning corruption in the private and public sectors.

As for the next summit, in 2005 in Buenos Aires, the leaders made commitments to work on economic growth and poverty reduction between now and then. That will mean implementing consistent macroeconomic policies, efficient monetary and fiscal regimes and appropriate exchange rates. The objective will be to increase economic diversity, create jobs and improve competitivity. The leaders recognized the importance of the small business sector in achieving those goals. (AB)