Brasília, 3/23/2004 (Agência Brasil) - With the inauguration of the seminar, "South America, Africa, Brazil - 2004" yesterday, a broad discussion of ways and means to promote racial equality and combat racial discrimination has begun. The seminar ends tomorrow, at which time the Carta de Brasilia will be signed. The "carta" is seen as the beginning of social and economic agreements uniting both continents in the quest for racial harmony.

According to minister Matilde Ribeiro, who heads the Secretariat for Racial Equality (Seppir), the idea is to make concrete progress in the areas of human rights, and public policy for women and culture in both Brazil and Africa. (translator: Allen Bennett)