Rio, June 7, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - The Minister of Agriculture, Roberto Rodrigues, called for the opening of international trade as a way to lessen the distances between rich and poor, with respect to both countries and populations. "There is currently a portion of the world economy that concurs with the idea that this can be accomplished through opening agricultural trade," Rodrigues asserted.

According to the Minister, developed and developing countries should open their markets jointly. Rodrigues said that Europe is taking a step in this direction by "expanding" the European Union through changes in the profile of agricultural subsidies and, most of all, with the entry of 10 million new farmers from Eastern Europe.

For the Minister, the actions of the G-20, a group of developing countries led by Brazil, mean that an important bloc of exporting countries has finally united "in search of harmonious decisions" in the international arena. "This has been imparting a definition that is essential for this opening. What rural Brazil expects is that the opening of global agricultural trade represents a gain not only for Brazilian farmers but a contribution to the reduction of the difference between rich and poor all over the world and, therefore, to the defense of universal peace and democracy in our country."

The Minister of Agriculture participated in the inauguration of the Rio Trade Week, in Rio de Janeiro. World trade issues such as the competitiveness of exports, development gains through trade, and cooperation among regions, will be discussed through Wednesday (9). The gathering precedes the XI Quadrennial Meeting of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XI), scheduled for June 13-18 in São Paulo.

Reporter: Cristina Índio do Brasil
Translator: David Silberstein