Agência Brasil

Brasília - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva made phone calls, yesterday (26) to the president of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, and the chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, to discuss the Doha Round negotiations in the World Trade Organization (WTO). This information comes from the press office of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Relations (Itamaraty).

In his conversation with the German chancellor, Lula reiterated the importance of convening a meeting of leaders of developed and developing countries to surmount the impasses hindering the progress of the WTO negotiations. According to the Itamaraty, Merkel agreed that the negotiations should proceed and said she would consult the other members of the European Union on this matter.

In his conversation with Mbeki, the Brazilian president suggested that a meeting to discuss the Doha Round be held during the Progressive Government Summit, which will take place on February 11-12 in South Africa. Mbeki agreed that the Summit would be a good time to discuss the matter with other African heads of State and government, the Itamaraty informed.

Translation: David Silberstein