Brasília, March 5, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Minister of Social Development and Hunger Alleviation, Patrus Ananias, said today that the II National Conference on Food and Nutritional Security, which will be held in Olinda (PE) from March 17-20, is of fundamental importance in expanding the awareness that hunger and malnutrition are unacceptable in Brazil. The meeting, which will last for four days, will bring together Brazilian and foreign experts, who will discuss the right to nourishment, the benefits of reducing hunger, Indian peoples and the Black population, and civil society initiatives, as well as evaluating other countries' experiences.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is expected to participate in the opening of the Conference, March 17. (DAS)