Vítor Abdala
Special Report

Pretoria (South Africa) - Yesterday, during the Progressive Governance Summit, president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared that each country should do what it can to assist poorer nations. And he went on to offer free access for goods from the poorest nations to the Brazilian market.

"President Lula told the summit that Brazil is willing to offer access, free of surtaxes or quotas, to our market for goods from poor countries, especially the less developed nations of Africa," explained Foreign Minister Celso Amorim. According to Amorim, Lula also continued to insist on making progress on the Doha Round issue of farm subsidies. Lula said that fair trade is important for the development of poor nations because it reduces poverty and helps to build world peace.

Translation: Allen Bennett