Brasília, January 22, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Yesterday (21) afternoon, economist Tânia Bacelar submitted her resignation from the post of secretary of Regional Development Policies to the Minister of National Integration, Ciro Gomes. She justified the request on the grounds that she needs to return to her home in Recife, for personal reasons.

The Minister, who was already aware of the problem, regretted what he regards as "a great technical, political, and moral loss for the Ministry and the government." Gomes accepted the arguments presented by Bacelar, whom he considers one of the most brilliant minds in the Brazilian academic world."

The director of the Department of Regional Development Planning of the Ministry, Antônio Carlos Filgueira Galvão, doctor in economics from the Unicamp and specialist in regional policy, is being named to answer for the secretariat.

Information provided by the Press Office of the Ministry of National Integration (DAS)