São Paulo - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called on the wealthy nations to assume responsibility for the reconstruction of Haiti. "It isn't possible to talk of peace in a country that lacks social justice," Lula remarked, yesterday (9), in São Paulo, at a ceremony to inaugurate Citizenship and Solidary Week.

Lula affirmed that he will request the United Nations to conduct an in-depth assessment of Haiti's minimal requirements in terms of economic growth, "so that we can start traveling around the world, talking to countries, and asking for help."

Lula will travel to Haiti on Sunday (15) with the Brazilian National Soccer Selection. "We shall take the Brazilian Selection there, because they [the Haitians] adore Brazilian soccer. It is a gesture we want to show the world, that not everything demands cannons, machine guns, and weapons of mass destruction. At times an affectionate gesture is worth a lot more than certain wars."

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Mylena Fiori
Translator: David Silberstein
08/10/2004