Santiago (Chile) - A joint declaration by the Presidents of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Chile, Ricardo Lagos, yesterday (23), in Santiago, recommends the "opening of a dialogue with Cuba by the Rio Group." The Rio Group is formed by 19 South and Central American countries.

The Presidents also reaffirmed "the absolute pertinence of the Rio Group as a permanent instrument for political consultations and conversations with other States and groups of countries.

The Brazilian Minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim, stated that one of the outstanding points of the declaration "is the affirmation of ties with Latin America." According to Amorim, "many people had their doubts, saying that Chile was more concerned about its links to the North, to the FTAA, and this is an affirmation of its commitment to the Latin American community."

Agência Brasil
Reporter: André Deak
Translator: David Silberstein
08/24/2004