Ana Paula Marra
Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, speaking to journalists following a working meeting with French president Jacques Chirac, declared that he believes that developing and developed countries are getting near an agreement on farm subsidy reduction. Lula said the negotiations were not easy, with each country defending its interests, but that he keeps insisting on the issue.

"We will continue to make our demands. I am convinced that talks within the Doha Round framework will result in progress in world trade," said the president. [the objective of the Doha Round trade negotiations is to liberalize world trade; farm subsidies are one of the most controversial items in the discussions]

Lula added that the problem of poverty has become prominent on the agenda of world leaders, something he considered an advance.

Translator: Allen Bennett