Carolina Pimentel
Reporter - Agencia Brasil

Brasilia – President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva received the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Percival James Patterson, this Tuesday (1), in Brasilia. During the meeting, they talked about ways of intensifying cooperation between the two countries in the cultural and AIDS fighting programs areas.

Lula mentioned the leadership role of both Brazil and Jamaica in the free trade agreement matter between the Mercosur and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). "Jamaica and Brazil share the responsibility of improving the partnership between the two regional blocs. This is the reason why we are leading the efforts to conclude a free trade agreement between the Mercosur and the Caricom", said Lula.

Lula evaluated that, after heading the stabilization mission in Haiti, Brazil renewed its relations with the Caribbean. According to him, the country supports the normalization of relations between the Caribbean nations and Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas.

"We are convinced that the country’s true stabilization requires a democratic government and an environment that respects the fundamental rights of the Haitian people," Lula said and added, "We are convinced that it will be through inclusion, instead of isolation that we will contribute to Haiti’s reconstruction."

The Brazilian President cited the biofuel production, such as sugar and ethanol, as a potential area of cooperation with Jamaica.

Translation: Andréa Alves