Fortaleza - Minister of Environment, Marina Silva, strongly denied reports that the Brazilian government intends to privatize the Amazon region. She called the reports "false and unfair." And continued: "We are working to halt land grabbing and any other assault on the country's sovereignty in the Amazon region. It is not fair to this government to say anything different. We are committed to defending the Amazon."

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Olga Bardawil
Translator: Allen Bennett
08/05/2004