Marcela Rebelo
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília - The Brazilian government formalized its support for the Uruguayan candidate, Carlos Pérez del Castillo, to occupy the post of director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim, telephoned the President of Uruguay, Tabaré Vázquez, yesterday (4), to inform him of Brazil's backing. According to the note released by the Itamaraty (Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Relations), Amorim discussed the matter with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Brazil had its own candidate, Brazilian Ambassador Luiz Felipe Seixas Corrêa, but he was eliminated by the WTO Council. The choice of a new director-general is based on a consensus among the member countries of the WTO, and the least promising candidates are eliminated. The candidate from Mauritius, Minister Jaya Krishna Cuttaree, was also scratched.

The selection of the new director-general is expected to be made by the end of this month. The Uruguayan candidate is disputing the election with the ex-Commissioner of the European Union, Pascal Lamy.

Translation: David Silberstein