Brasília, 4/7/2004(Agência Brasil) - Brazil may negotiate an additional inspection protocol for its uranium enrichment plant, but the decision will respect the country's sovereignty, declared minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim, in testimony at the Chamber of Deputies.

"This additional protocol does not have a deadline, so it should be analyzed calmly and objectively in light of the situation in other countries and our own technological situation. A decision should take into consideration respect for our sovereignty," said the minister.

The additional protocol Amorim was referring to would permit International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors additional access to the Brazilian uranium enrichment plant in Resende, Rio de Janeiro.

Amorim declared that there had not been any direct pressure from the US to sign the protocol, but that such pressure could occur in the future. "The US has made it clear that it wants everyone in this region to sign. We will wait and see what happens," said the minister.

"At this time it is important to avoid jumping to conclusions. That is what the official note from the Ministry of Foreign Relations made clear, along with the fact that such pressure is unwarrented," concluded the minister. (Translator: Allen Bennett)