Ex-minister denies Valerio was a ''presidential consultant''

04/08/2005 - 22h36

Ana Paula Marra
Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília - The ex-minister of Public Works of Portugal, António Mexia, now denies that Marcos Valério met with him as "a consultant of the president of Brazil". The Portuguese newspaper Expresso reported yesterday that Valerio had said he was a "consultant of the Presidency of Brazil." According to the Brazilian ambassador in Portugal, Paes de Andrade, Mexia told him that Valerio "never said he had any title or denomination linking him directly with the Presidency of Brazil."

According to Mexia, he received Valerio during a courtesy visit of some ten minutes at the request of the president of Portugal Telecom, Miguel Horta e Costa, "for a general conversation on the Brazilian economy, Portuguese investments in Brazil and the importance of Portugal Telecom investments."

Translator: Allen Bennett