Brasília, January 22, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva accepted, yesterday (21), the resignation of the Minister of Science and Technology, Roberto Amaral, who had already submitted a letter of resignation to the President last January 9 but remained at his post at the President's request. The official announcement of Amaral's resignation was made by Presidential spokesman André Singer, who also announced that the executive secretary of Science and Technology, César Calegari, will occupy the post temporarily, starting today. According to Singer, President Lula "made a point of thanking Roberto Amarl for his excellent service to the country," during his meeting with the Minister.

The spokesman informed that the President has conversed with various interlocutors and held a series of consultations over the past few days about Cabinet reform and should announce the changes in his upper echelon prior to his departure for India on Friday (23). "Hypothetically, it might be tomorrow [22], but Friday seems more likely to me." (DAS)