Caracas (Venezuela), February 27, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arrived early this morning in this capital to participate in the XII Presidential Summit Meeting of the G-15. At 10 A.M. (11 A.M. Brasília time) Lula has a meeting scheduled with his Venezuelan counterpart, Hugo Chávez Frías, and the President of Argentina, Nestor Kirchner. The Press Office of the Ministry of Foreign Relations did not inform what will be discussed.

At 7 P.M. (Caracas time) Lula will return to Brazil to visit Vice-President José Alencar, who has been hospitalized since last Saturday (21) in the Syrio-Lebanese Hospital in São Paulo. Alencar is currently recovering from a pneumonia infection at the base of his right lung.

Due to his early return to São Paulo, Lula is expected to miss tonight's dinner offered by Hugo Chávez for the heads of State and government, delegation chiefs, and delegates who are attending the XII G-15 Summit.

The G-15, created in 1989, is a forum intended to intensify cooperation among the countries that belong to the group: Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Egypt, Jamaica, Kenya, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe. (DAS)