Edla Lula
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília - Today (5), the Brazilian minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim, refuted criticisms that the Brazilian government should have taken a tougher stand against the decision taken by the Bolivian president, Evo Morales, to natonalize his country's petroleum and natural gas resources.

In Amorim's view, president Lula acted correctly at yesterday's meeting with presidents Evo Morales, from Bolivia, Nestor Kirchner, from Argentina, and Hugo Chavez, from Venezuela, in Puerto Iguazú, on the Argentinean side of the triple border.

"President Lula said frankly all he had to say and obtained replies favorable to a dialogue," Amorim affirmed. He pointed out that he agreement signed yesterday was important, because it guaranteed the supply of Bolivian gas to Brazil.

Regarding the talks about gas prices, the minister commented that the declaration approved yesterday makes it clear that the agreement has to take into account the companies' commitment. According to Amorim, the technical aspects of the agreement will be discussing during the next 180 days. "There [Puerto Iguazú] was not the right place to discuss this matter."

Translation: David Silberstein