Brasília - The arrival of United States Secretary of State, Colin Powell, in Brasilia yesterday will be followed by official meetings today with president Luis Inacio Lula da Silva and Foreign Minister, Celso Amorim. Their discussions will focus on UN Security Council reform, democracy in Latin America, the situation in Venezuela and Haiti, and world hunger. Powell will be in Brasilia until Wednesday.

Minister Amorim said the Powell visit was very important. He said Brazil and the US maintain a constant dialogue and seek to work together on many issues. "We agree on many. Sometimes we disagree because of nuances. But we always try to work together," he declared.

Amorim recalled that Powell made a personal effort in getting the Friends of Venezuela Group off the ground. And the minister cited other international hot-button issues, such as Sudan and Haiti, as examples of the constant Brazil-US cooperative dialogue.

With regard to the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), Amorim said that in his opinion it could have been concluded on schedule if both countries had given it the same amount of attention they gave to issues at the World Trade Organization during the first half of this year.

Agência Brasil
Reporters: Mylena Fiori and Ana Paula Marra
Translator: Allen Bennett
10/05/2004