Lula, ex-Brazilian president, has throat cancer

October 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

SAO PAULO: Former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was diagnosed with throat cancer, a hospital where the ex-leader went for medical exams said on Saturday. Following a series of tests, the 66-year-old Lula “was diagnosed with a tumor located in his larynx” and will receive outpatient chemotherapy treatment, the Syrian-Lebanese Hospital of Sao Paulo said in a statement. He was otherwise in good health, the statement read.

The charismatic and popular Lula left power with a record 80 per cent approval rating after two consecutive terms from January 2003 to December 2010. Brazil’s constitution prohibits a third consecutive term. The former copper factory worker’s social programs helped lift 29 million Brazilians out of poverty, and his foreign policy turned Brazil into a global power player.

The Syrian-Lebanese Hospital, which specializes in cancer treatment, treated Lula’s former vice-president, Jose Alencar, who died in March following cancer in his abdominal area. President Dilma Rousseff was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer in 2009, before she was elected to Brazil’s top office, and was treated in September of that year at the hospital. Doctors say she is currently cancer-free.

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Brazil’s Rousseff pledges continuity and female touch

June 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – Presidential candidate Dilma Rousseff pledged on Sunday to continue the policies of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva but to govern Brazil with the “soul and heart of a woman” if she wins October’s election.

World | Brazil

Rousseff, a 62-year-old former leftist militant, was speaking in the capital Brasilia after she was formally selected as presidential candidate at a convention of Lula’s ruling Workers’ Party.

“It’s not coincidence that after this great man, our Brazil could be governed by a woman — a woman who will continue the Brazil of Lula but with the soul and heart of a woman,” she said in a speech.

While Rousseff has been gaining on her main opponent Jose Serra in recent opinion polls, surveys show she trails the former Sao Paulo state governor among women voters.

Rousseff can count on Lula’s huge popularity and a rebounding economy to give her a boost as she attempts to become the South American country’s first female leader.

Her running mate is Michel Temer, a veteran federal deputy, who was confirmed as vice presidential candidate on Saturday by the Workers’ Party coalition partner, the centrist PMDB party.

Rousseff also pledged to secure economic stability and continue with key reforms, such as to the tax system, which business leaders complain is overly bureaucratic and costly.

“Our tax system is chaotic,” she said. “If we don’t have the courage to recognize this, we will never implement such urgent and necessary reforms.”

She said Brazil could still do better, despite the advances under Lula, and promised her government would eradicate “absolute misery” in the country, where millions still live in poverty.

SERRA GOES ON ATTACK

Serra, who was confirmed as candidate for the opposition PSDB party on Saturday, is favored by some investors for his perceived fiscal discipline and reputation as a competent administrator [ID:nN09243047] [ID:nN09253247]

But neither he nor Rousseff is seen as straying much from Lula’s largely market-friendly economic policies that have nurtured years of strong economic growth and growing global clout.

Serra launched his strongest attack yet on Lula’s record on Saturday, criticizing the president for downplaying human rights abuses abroad and for not stamping out corruption in the ruling coalition. He also hinted that Lula had become too powerful, apparently comparing him to France’s 17th century “Sun King,” Louis the 14th.

“Louis 14th believed the state was him. In democracies and in Brazil, there is no place for this,” said Serra, who lost to Lula in the 2002 presidential race.

Lula also hit the continuity theme in his speech to the Workers’ Party convention on Sunday, saying that a vote for Rousseff would be the same as voting for him. Lula is barred by the constitution from running for a third straight term.

“There will be a gap on that ballot. To make sure it is filled, I changed my name and will put Dilma’s there,” he said.

Many people expect Lula to continue to have a strong influence on a Rousseff government, even without having a formal position.

“Lula will help her to govern. He won’t leave her alone,” said Cristina Rocha, a Workers’ Party member from northeastern Piaui state who was attending the convention.

(Additional reporting by Fernando Exman; Writing by Stuart Grudgings; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

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Brazil’s Rousseff pledges continuity, female touch

June 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

BRASILIA, June 13 (Reuters) – Presidential candidate Dilma Rousseff pledged on Sunday to continue the policies of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva but to govern Brazil with the “soul and heart of a woman” if she wins October’s election.

Rousseff, a 62-year-old former leftist militant, was speaking in the capital Brasilia after she was formally selected as presidential candidate at a convention of Lula’s ruling Workers’ Party.

“It’s not coincidence that after this great man, our Brazil could be governed by a woman — a woman who will continue the Brazil of Lula but with the soul and heart of a woman,” she said in a speech.

While Rousseff has been gaining on her main opponent Jose Serra in recent opinion polls, surveys show she trails the former Sao Paulo state governor among women voters.

Rousseff can count on Lula’s huge popularity and a rebounding economy to give her a boost as she attempts to become the South American country’s first female leader. [ID:nN12175920] [ID:nN12110350].

Her running mate is Michel Temer, a veteran federal deputy, who was confirmed as vice presidential candidate on Saturday by the Workers’ Party coalition partner, the centrist PMDB party.

Rousseff also pledged to secure economic stability and continue with key reforms, such as to the tax system, which business leaders complain is overly bureaucratic and costly.

“Our tax system is chaotic,” she said. “If we don’t have the courage to recognize this, we will never implement such urgent and necessary reforms.”

She said Brazil could still do better, despite the advances under Lula, and promised her government would eradicate “absolute misery” in the country, where millions still live in poverty.

SERRA GOES ON ATTACK

Serra, who was confirmed as candidate for the opposition PSDB party on Saturday, is favored by some investors for his perceived fiscal discipline and reputation as a competent administrator [ID:nN09243047] [ID:nN09253247]

But neither he nor Rousseff is seen as straying much from Lula’s largely market-friendly economic policies that have nurtured years of strong economic growth and growing global clout. [ID:nRISKBR]

Serra launched his strongest attack yet on Lula’s record on Saturday, criticizing the president for downplaying human rights abuses abroad and for not stamping out corruption in the ruling coalition. He also hinted that Lula had become too powerful, apparently comparing him to France’s 17th century “Sun King,” Louis the 14th.

“Louis 14th believed the state was him. In democracies and in Brazil, there is no place for this,” said Serra, who lost to Lula in the 2002 presidential race.

Lula also hit the continuity theme in his speech to the Workers’ Party convention on Sunday, saying that a vote for Rousseff would be the same as voting for him. Lula is barred by the constitution from running for a third straight term.

“There will be a gap on that ballot. To make sure it is filled, I changed my name and will put Dilma’s there,” he said.

Many people expect Lula to continue to have a strong influence on a Rousseff government, even without having a formal position.

“Lula will help her to govern. He won’t leave her alone,” said Cristina Rocha, a Workers’ Party member from northeastern Piaui state who was attending the convention.

(Additional reporting by Fernando Exman; Writing by Stuart Grudgings; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

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UPDATE 1-Brazil Senate passes key part of Lula’s oil reform

June 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

BRASILIA/RIO DE JANEIRO, June 8 (Reuters) – Brazil’s Senate on Thursday passed a plan that creates a production-sharing model to replace the existing concession system in future oil projects, boosting government control over massive deepwater reserves off the country’s coastline.

Senators voted 38-to-31 with one abstention to approve the plan, which is a key component of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s efforts to boost state control over the country’s oil reserves. The bill now goes back to the lower house for conciliation after senators changed parts of the original text.

The approval gives Lula a key legislative victory after years of debate over how Brazil can ensure it gets a fair share of the massive offshore oil reserves. The Senate is still slated to vote on Thursday on a plan to transfer up to 5 billion barrels of oil to state-controlled oil giant Petrobras in exchange for shares of the company.

Brazil is hoping the massive oil reserves, buried deep beneath the ocean floor under a layer of salt in a basin known as the subsalt region, will help the fledgling emerging market economy move into the ranks of the developed nations and help it become a major energy exporter.

“We are gaining the necessary financial, operating and legal muscle needed to turn all this wealth into funds for development,” Senator Delcidio Amaral, a government lawmaker and a former director at Petrobras (PETR4.SA)(PBR.N), told fellow lawmakers ahead of the ballot.

Under the plan, Petrobras will be made the sole operator of new projects in that region with a 30 percent minimum stake in those projects.

Once the lower house approves the bill, Brazil can resume auctions for the subsalt fields that the country suspended in 2007 after Petrobras announced their discovery, the biggest in the Americas in three decades. <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

For a factbox on production sharing agreements, click on [ID:N09125922]

For a graphic of key Brazil oil projects click:

link.reuters.com/gek88k ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>

The bill also included a “social fund” aimed at channeling money into poverty reduction, the environment and improving an education system that lags much of the world.

Brazil’s move is part of a worldwide trend of governments seeking greater control over natural resources. But Brazilian officials stress their plan does not seek to shunt aside foreign capital, as has happened in places like Venezuela and Ecuador. (Additional reporting and writing by Guillermo Parra-Bernal in Sao Paulo; Editing by Michael Urquhart)

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TIMELINE-Key events in Petrobras capitalization plan

June 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – Brazil’s Senate may pass a bill as early as this week to allow the government to transfer 5 billion barrels of oil to state-owned Petrobras, part of a plan to raise up to $25 billion in cash to develop massive offshore deposits.

Stocks | Global Markets | Energy

Senators are also expected to vote on a measure changing Brazil’s existing oil and gas concession system to a production-sharing model for future deep water oil projects.

The new production model and the recapitalization of state-owned oil company Petrobras (PETR3.SA)(PETR4.SA) are central to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s efforts to boost state control over the newfound deposits buried deep under the South Atlantic ocean floor.

Here is a tentative timeline of other key events for the Petrobras capitalization plan, which could be delayed if political wrangling slows the vote:

June 10-15 — Petrobras is expected to announce the final numbers for its five-year investment program ending 2015. The figure is slated at $200 billion to $220 billion.

June 22 — Shareholders are expected to approve a stock issue of up to $80 billion. The meeting should provide much-awaited details on the size of the capitalization and the value per barrel of oil to be transferred.

June 25-30 — Petrobras plans to deliver the necessary paperwork for the share offering to Brazil securities regulator CVM, which usually takes at least 22 days to review the documents.

July 1-15 — Petrobras will probably hold a global road show to boost investor interest in the share offering.

July 25-31 — Bookbuilding and completion of the share sale.

Aug. 10-15 — Petrobras releases second-quarter earnings, may provide a new forecast.

Sept. 1-30 — Appraisal by Mines and Energy Ministry and Brazil energy regulator ANP, including a possible revision to the value per barrel of the oil included in the rights offering. (Reporting by Guillermo Parra-Bernal; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)

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U.S. rift with Brazil, Turkey on Iran deepens

May 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The United States clashed with Brazil and Turkey on Friday over the next steps on Iran, with U.S. officials saying a proposed atomic fuel deal for Tehran must not derail the U.N. drive to impose new sanctions over Iran’s nuclear program.

In signs of the deep rift between the United States and two influential nonpermanent members of the U.N. Security Council, Turkey and Brazil stepped up to defend their proposal as the right thing to do to reduce tensions over the Iranian nuclear impasse.

“We know we did the right thing,” Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim told a news conference, flanked by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

“We are seeking to follow a path of dialogue, a path of conversation and understanding, and that has produced results.”

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan traveled to Tehran earlier this month to broker the deal under which Iran agreed to send 1,200 kg of its low-enriched uranium abroad in exchange for specially processed fuel for its medical isotope reactor.

Senior U.S. officials dismissed the fuel deal proposal, saying Turkey and Brazil appeared to have been hoodwinked by Tehran in its efforts to escape new U.N. sanctions.

“We very much recognize the sincere efforts that were made by Brazil and Turkey … but unfortunately I think the motives of the parties were quite different,” said one senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“I think Iran’s main interest was to have a proposal in play that would reduce momentum toward a sanctions resolution.”

Iran rejects Western allegations its nuclear program is aimed at developing weapons. It says its atomic ambitions are limited to the peaceful generation of electricity and refuses to suspend uranium enrichment.

Iran’s foreign minister said on Friday he believed Western powers were considering the fuel deal, which he said could foster cooperation instead of confrontation over Iran’s nuclear plans.

MOVING ON SANCTIONS

The deal brokered by Brazil and Turkey resurrected elements of a compromise floated in October by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The IAEA proposal was seen as a confidence-building measure to allow more time to work with Tehran. But Iran walked away from the table, setting in motion U.S.-led moves to build consensus around new U.N. sanctions.

The United States and the other permanent Security Council members — Britain, China, France and Russia — along with Germany agreed on the framework for such a resolution this month and plan to move ahead in submitting it to the full council as soon as possible, the U.S. officials said.

“In our view the joint declaration falls short of what’s necessary. But regardless of this … proposal, it is important that we proceed to New York to adopt the resolution,”

The officials said the fuel swap proposal did nothing to address the core issues of Iran’s continued enrichment of uranium or its revelation of a secret centrifuge facility at Qom, to which the IAEA has still not been given full access.

They also said Iran had moved forward both with enrichment plans and with building its nuclear stockpile since the original proposal was proposed — making the fuel swap idea pointless.

“Now Iran has roughly doubled the amount of its low enriched uranium. Even if you send 1,200 kilos out, there’s more than enough remaining to produce a nuclear bomb,” the official said. “Time has overtaken the original proposal and this has not been corrected.”

State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who has led the U.S. drive for tough new measures against Iran, would likely meet Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Washington on Tuesday to compare notes on Iran.

Davutoglu, speaking in Brazil on Friday, said Turkey and Brazil were following in the footsteps of U.S. President Barack Obama, whose 2008 campaign platform called for greater engagement of the Islamic Republic.

“This (agreement) is a success for Turkey and Brazil, but it is also a success for President (Barack) Obama’s policy of engagement,” Davutoglu said.

(Additional reporting by Tsvetelia Tsolova in Sofia; Editing by Peter Cooney)

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Russia says enrichment still issue in Iran fuel swap

May 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday he was studying an Iranian fuel swap deal brokered by Brazil and Turkey but that questions remained, including whether Iran intended to continue enriching uranium.

“One question is: will Iran itself enrich uranium? As far as I understand from officials of that state, such work will be continued. In this case, of course, those concerns that the international community had before could remain,” Medvedev said.

Iran agreed with Brazil and Turkey on Monday that it would send some of its uranium abroad, abruptly ending its refusal to countenance such a deal just as the U.N. Security Council readied tougher sanctions.

“The question arises — is the level of this swap operation sufficient? Will all members of the international community be satisfied? I don’t know,” Medvedev said. “We need to see what follows this declaration.”

Medvedev said consultations were needed with Iran and all major powers involved in the negotiations about the Islamic Republic’s nuclear programme.

“After this, we need to decide what to do: Are those proposals sufficient or is something else needed? So I think a small pause on this problem would not do any harm,” he said.

Medvedev spoke by phone to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva late on Monday to discuss the issue, the Kremlin said in a statement.

Medvedev “positively assessed joint efforts by Brazil and Turkey to promote a political and diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear problem,” the statement said.

“Russia will use all opportunities to support a joint search for, and the development of, a constructive resolution (to the Iranian nuclear problem) that satisfies the international community,” the statement said.

(Reporting by Denis Dyomkin, writing by Guy Faulconbridge and Conor Humphries, editing by Jon Boyle)

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ANALYSIS – Leaders of Turkey, Brazil pin hopes on Iran deal

May 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

By getting Iran to agree to swap stocks of low enriched uranium that could have been used for making a nuclear bomb, Brazil and Turkey have thrust themselves into the unfamiliar centre of a global dispute.

They could have delivered a diplomatic coup with the deal struck in Tehran on Monday.

Or the deal could be dismissed by world powers as too little and too late for failing to address core concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan have staked their international standing on Iran honouring the commitments it made to them.

Brazil and Turkey have rotating seats on the U.N. Security Council and covet a bigger role in the international arena. But critics say Lula and Erdogan could have overreached themselves over Iran.

“Turkey has taken a big risk because this can turn out to be very embarrassing,” Faruk Logoglu, a former Turkish ambassador to Washington, said. “Iran is a very astute player in this game.”

The United States sees Iran playing on uncertainties and divisions between the Western powers, Russia and China over sanctions. The sceptic in Washington might see the fuel deal as just another ploy, with Turkey and Brazil unwitting instruments.

Erdogan’s desperation to break the stalemate between the West and Iran, and stop more U.N. sanctions being imposed on his country’s neighbour is, however, understandable.

“The experience of Iraq is very fresh in the memory of Turkey,” Logoglu said. “More than the prevention of sanctions, Turkey does not want to see another war in the region.”

FRONT LINE

Turkey is rebounding strongly from recession, and Erdogan, a moderate Muslim leader, albeit with an Islamist past, is banking on the economic recovery helping him win a third term when the country votes next year.

Sanctions on Iran would hit Turkey hard. It has an $11-billion trade with neighbouring Iran and buys nearly 30 percent of its gas from the Islamic Republic.

Should it come to a vote, the only Muslim nation with NATO membership could risk Washington’s ire by abstaining.

Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu have risked irritating their U.S. ally by speaking out against sanctions.

“Davutoglu and Erdogan decided to carry out a high risk, high reward strategy towards Iran, and it has seemingly paid off,” Sinan Ulgen, chairman of the Centre for Economics and Policy Studies in Istanbul, told Reuters.

Having seen the turmoil caused by the Iraq war, Turkey has pushed itself as a stabilising force in the region, mediating between Israel and Syria and the West and Iran.

Western facing in its foreign policy since the days of the Cold War, Turkey has sought to rebalance relations by strengthening ties with Russia and fellow Muslim states in the Middle East.

Condemnation of Israeli actions in Gaza, and readiness to risk past friendship with the Jewish state, has made Erdogan possibly the most popular leader among Muslims in the region.

Late last year, he dismissed talk of Iran having a nuclear weapons programme as mere “gossip”, just one of several comments that made critics wonder whether NATO-member Turkey was in danger of slipping out of the Western camp.

But he won the confidence of the Iranian leadership and the agreement reached in Tehran demonstrated Turkey’s clout.

“It shows the changing role of Turkey as a regional power with something to say on global issues,” Soli Ozel, professor of international relations at Istanbul Bilgi University said.

Historic rivalry between Iran and Turkey would have made Tehran wary about giving Erdogan sole credit for any deal, but Lula’s involvement removed those reservations.

LULA’S AGENDA

As the leader of a far-off country, economically cushioned from the fall-out from the Iran crisis, and at the end of his presidency, Lula has far less at stake than Erdogan.

Lula’s government is often criticized for timid foreign policy that avoids confrontation on issues such as human rights.

In 2009, he described the tumult over Iran’s presidential vote as a routine electoral dispute, in contrast to broad criticism heaped on Tehran by international powers.

But brokering a deal with Iran could help Brazil show it has the diplomatic muscle as a leader of the developing world and help Lula carry out plans to become a global campaigner against poverty once he steps down as president this year.

But Lula also risks alienating himself from U.S. leadership that is already unhappy with his stance on Iran, and if this gambit fails he could be criticised as an unseasoned novice out of his depth.

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Rousseff ahead in Brazil presidential race – poll

May 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Brazilian ruling party presidential candidate Dilma Rousseff has pulled ahead of her main challenger for the first time in the campaign for the Oct. 3 election, according to a poll released on Saturday.

Rousseff, who vows to continue the Workers’ Party’s mostly investor-friendly economic policies, was favored by 38 percent of voters to 35 percent for Jose Serra, the former governor of Sao Paulo state, the Vox Populi poll showed.

A poll in April by the firm showed Serra leading Rousseff by a 34-31 margin.

Most analysts viewed Rousseff as the favorite to win the election due to a strong economy and the popularity of outgoing Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a recent Reuters poll showed.

Lula is barred by Brazil’s constitution from seeking a third consecutive term in office.

The Vox Populi poll said Rousseff, who is Lula’s former chief of staff, had climbed in the polls after increased national exposure — she has been traveling frequently with Lula.

Brazil’s economy, one of the fastest growing in the developing world in recent years, also is rebounding from the impact of the global recession, a trend that could help Rousseff, 62, become Brazil’s first female president.

Marina Silva, a former environment minister and current Green Party presidential candidate, was at 8 percent support in the poll, up one percentage point from April. She is due to officially launch her candidacy on Sunday.

Serra, 68, is highlighting his executive experience in his campaign. In addition to once ruling Sao Paulo state, the industrial heart of Brazil, he is the former mayor of Sao Paulo as well as a former health minister and planning minister under Lula’s predecessor, Fernando Henrique Cardoso.

Serra also has said he would not break with the fundamentals of Lula’s economic policies. Both Serra and Rousseff are seen as favoring a stronger government role in the economy.

The Vox Populi survey polled 2,000 people between May 8 and 13 and has a margin of error of 2.2 percentage points.

(Editing by Paul Simao)

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Russia warns U.S. against unilateral Iran sanctions

May 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned the United States and other Western nations on Thursday against imposing unilateral sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme, Interfax news agency reported.

The European Union has said it may impose unilateral sanctions if a U.N. Security Council resolution fails.

U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration has been lobbying Western companies not to do business with Iran, but has not imposed sanctions against them.

Countries facing Security Council sanctions “cannot under any circumstances be the subject of one-sided sanctions imposed by one or other government bypassing the Security Council”, Lavrov was quoted as saying by Interfax.

“The position of the United States today does not display understanding of this absolutely clear truth.”

Russia is in talks with the United States and other U.N. Security Council members on a fourth round of sanctions. Moscow has indicated it could support broader sanctions but has stressed they must not harm the Iranian people.

Washington has not publicly warned of unilateral sanctions but has made clear it wants tougher measures than veto-wielding Security Council member Russia is likely to accept.

Permanent Security Council member China has joined Russia in opposing Washington’s plans to impose tough, wide-ranging sanctions on the Islamic Republic over its refusal to suspend sensitive uranium enrichment activity and open up fully to U.N. nuclear inspections.

Lavrov’s warning came just before the arrival in Russia on Thursday of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, a non-permament member of the Security Council that is also opposed to further sanctions against Iran.

Lula was expected to meet senior Russian officials on Friday to discuss how to revive a stalled nuclear fuel swap deal meant to minimise the risk of Tehran using enrichment for military purposes. Lula will travel on to Iran on Sunday.

Lavrov, speaking to deputies from Russia’s upper house of parliament, said the United States tended not to see international law as having pre-eminence over national laws.

“We are now confronted with this problem during discussion of a new U.N. Security Council resolution on Iran.”

Despite his criticism, Lavrov said that relations with the United States had shown clear signs of improvement, specifically with the signing of a nuclear-disarmament treaty that would reduce their deployed nuclear warheads by about 30 percent.

He said the document would soon be submitted to Russia’s parliament for ratification.

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BRIC signs pact to facilitate cooperation between development banks

April 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Brasilia (Brazil), Apr.16 (ANI): Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese President Hu Jintao on Thursday witnessed the signing of a pact that will facilitate cooperation between development banks of the four countries.

Brazilian National Development Bank President Luciano Coutinho signed a memorandum of cooperation with his other three counterparts from Russia, India and China.

The agreement seeks to establish mechanisms to enhance trade and economic relations between BRIC countries.It also includes the possibility of co-financing projects of common interest in areas such as infrastructure, energy, industry, high technology and export.

At the end of the summit, BRIC leaders signed a joint declaration outlining their common vision on global issues, including:

The need for reform in the United Nations to make the institution more efficient and representative, in order to better address global challenges.

The need to join economic efforts and adopt sustainable fiscal policies to ensure a full recovery from the global financial crisis and long-term economic growth.

“We are confident that the unity we achieved here will contribute to the construction of a space for dialogue and consultation. Brazil, Russia, India and China have a key role to play in the establishment of a new international order that is more representative, fairer and safer,” said Brazilian President Lula.

Chinese President Hu Jintao said the meeting was fruitful,and added that the debate not only reflects the collective interests of the group, but of all countries of the world.

China will host the third BRIC summit at a date yet to be defined.

Russia intends to deepen the dialogue on tackling global challenges such as terrorism and organized crime.

“The BRIC format allows us complete action,” said Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reaffirmed the need for continued cooperation, reiterating that the four countries can make considerable contribution to global prosperity.

“The global financial crisis has given new relevance to the BRIC countries,” he added.

In the period from 2003 to 2007, the BRIC countries accounted for 65 percent of the world’s GDP growth. In 2009, the GDP of BRIC countries (by purchasing power parity) reached 16.3 trillion USD, corresponding to 23.4 percent of the global economy. In the period 2003-2008, there was an increase of 382 percent in the volume of trade between Brazil and the other BRIC countries from 10.7 billion USD in 2003 to 51.7 billion USD in 2008.

The summit was originally scheduled for Friday (April 16), but was advanced by a day in order to accommodate President Hu Jintao’s decision to shorten his trip to return hom to take control of the decision-making process for the earthquake that hit his country earlier this week. By Ravinder Singh Robin (ANI)

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IBSA countries: Commitment to democratic values, inclusive social development basis for growing cooperation

April 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Brasilia, April 16 (ANI): India, Brazil, and South Africa on Thursday highlighted the three countries’ commitment to democratic values, inclusive social development and the fact that multilateralism constitute the basis for their growing cooperation and close coordination on global issues.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and South African President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma met in Brasmlia on Thursday (April 15) for the 4th Summit of the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum.

Recalling the Declarations and Communiquis issued during the previous Summits, the leaders took the opportunity to deliberate on the topics hereunder.

On Global Governance, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to increase participation of developing countries in the decision-making bodies of multilateral institutions. They also reiterated the urgent need for the reform of the United Nations (UN) to render it more democratic and consistent with the priorities of developing countries.

They particularly emphasized that no reform of the United Nations will be complete without a reform of the UN Security Council (UNSC), including an expansion in both permanent and nonpermanent categories of its membership, with increased participation of developing countries in both.

They committed to keep close coordination amongst the three countries and the broader UN membership to achieve substantial progress in the intergovernmental negotiations on UNSC reform presently underway in New York.

The leaders stressed the need to reform the Bretton Woods Institutions in order to increase their effectiveness and enhance their accountability, credibility and legitimacy Besides, they stressed at the importance of increasing the role of developing countries in these institutions.

The Leaders also reiterated the need to promote a job-intensive recovery from the downturn and create a framework for sustainable growth.

They also reaffirmed that their actions in response to the crisis are guided by the International Labour Organization (ILO) decent work agenda and the 2008 declaration on social justice for a fair globalization.

On the issue of empowering women, the leaders stressed at the importance of empowering women, increasing their participation in economic activities and addressing the negative impact of the international financial crisis on their situation.

On Human Rights, the leaders attached the highest priority to human rights issues and acknowledged the positive advance represented by the creation and functioning of the Human Rights Council.

They also emphasized the need to continue to strengthen international human rights law, norms and standards, particularly in the area of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and elated intolerance, in accordance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

On the issue of Intellectual Property Rights, the leaders recognized that innovation plays a central role in addressing the key global challenges of our times such as food security, poverty eradication, health, access to knowledge and climate change.

They emphasized, in this context, the need for a balanced international intellectual property system capable of meeting those challenges on a truly global scale and reducing the technological gap.

To that effect, they called for the full implementation of the Development Agenda of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). (ANI)

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Brazil, China sign joint action plan for 2010 -2014

April 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Brasilia, April 16 (ANI): Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Chinese President Hu Jintao signed a Joint Action Plan on Thursday at a meeting on the sidelines of the second annual BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) Summit, outlining joint initiatives in industry, science and technology, agriculture, culture, education and statistics for the period from 2010 to 2014.

The two Heads of State also lauded the progress of the Petrobras and Sinopec agreement signed in May 2009. Based on the favorable results of the partnership to date, China and Brazil announced their intention to deepen cooperation in fields of energy and mining.

In his speech, Brazilian President Lula said that the plan is “an excellent roadmap” for Brazil-China bilateral relations that will allow for coordinated global action by the two countries.

In addition to the Joint Action Plan, several cooperation agreements were signed between Chinese and Brazilian companies and State agencies, including a partnership between Brazil’s EBX and Chinese state-owned WISCO.

The two companies are negotiating the construction of a steel-making complex in the Port of Agu, Rio de Janeiro, that Lula stated will be the largest Chinese investment in Brazil and China’s largest in steel investment abroad.resident Lula stressed the advancement of bilateral trade between Brazil and China, which grew 780 percent between 2003 and 2009.

Today, China is Brazil’s largest trading partner. The President Lula, however, pointed out the need to raise the quality of the trade exchange currently made by Brazil. For the promise of South-South cooperation to become a reality, Brazil must increase the added value of its sales. The aviation sector can help make our exchanges more balanced,” he said. hinese President Hu Jintao stated that China and Brazil are on the way to rapid development, and reiterated the interest of his country to develop comprehensive cooperation with Brazil.

The meeting between Lula and Hu Jintao is part of a series of meetings planned during the Chinese leader’s visit to Brazil.

The two Presidents will also participate in the second annual BRIC Summit later today, which will include the heads of government/state of Russia and India. By Ravinder Singh Robin (ANI)

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India, Brazil satisfied over growing cooperation and collaboration

April 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Brasilia, April 16 (ANI): The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during their bilateral meet here on Thursday expressed satisfaction at the growing cooperation and collaboration between the two countries which have intensified in recent years.

Both the leaders also met at the 4th Summit of the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum as well as the 2nd Brazil-Russia-India-China (BRIC) Summit here on Thursday and Friday respectively and expressed their satisfaction at the continued expansion of bilateral trade in recent years which reached US$ 5.6 billion in 2009 despite the impact of the international financial crisis.

They noted, however, the need for increased efforts to achieve the bilateral trade target of US$ 10 billion by 2010 including the diversification of bilateral trade particularly in value-added sectors.

At the bilateral meeting and working lunch, Dr. Singh and President Lula held detailed discussions on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues and renewed their commitment to strengthen the India-Brazil Strategic Partnership.

In this context, both the leaders noted the positive outcome of the Trade Monitoring Mechanism, the second meeting of which was held on 15 March 2010 in Sco Paulo, and the scheduling of the next meeting in October 2010 in New Delhi.

The Leaders reiterated their intent to hold the Second Meeting of the CEO Forum shortly.

Both Leaders noted that bilateral investments were growing in diverse areas. They called on business and industry in both countries to utilize the opportunities available in the areas of Energy, Agriculture, Mining, Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure and Construction, among others to further expand bilateral investments.

Both the leaders also welcomed the coming into operation from June 2009 of the Preferential Trade Agreement between MERCOSUR and India. Besides, the two leaders reiterated the need for active enhancement of cooperation in Science and Technology, Nuclear Energy, Space and Defence for mutual benefit.

They also noted that Biotechnology, IT, Marine Science, and Nano-technology have been identified as areas with significant potential for cooperation.

The two Leaders emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation in the energy sector including in Hydrocarbons and New and Renewable energies. In this regard, they directed the Joint Working Group on energy to convene an early meeting.

Brazil welcomed the interest of Indian oil companies to participate in future ANP bidding processes for exploration of oil in conformity with its national policies in this sector. They reaffirmed their intention to encourage better coordination of their positions on the issue of Bio-fuels at multilateral fora. (ANI)

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India, Brazil express satisfaction over bilateral cooperation in Defense sector

April 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Brasilia, April 15 (ANI): India and Brazil here on Thursday expressed satisfaction at the ongoing bilateral cooperation in the Defense sector.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during their bilateral meet welcomed the appointment of Defence Attachis in their respective Diplomatic Missions in Brazil and in India.

They noted the increasing contacts between EMBRAER and DRDO towards the joint development of high-technology military aircrafts.

They underlined that the recent visit of Minister of Defence of Brazil, H.E. Nelson Jobim, to India in March 2010 had opened opportunities for enhanced Defence cooperation particularly in the field of joint production, research and development.

Both the leaders welcomed the decision to host the First Meeting of the India-Brazil Joint Defence Committee, in India, this year, at mutually convenient dates.

Moreover, the two leaders reiterated the importance that Brazil and India attach to bilateral electoral cooperation and noted with satisfaction the ongoing dialogue between the Election Commission of India and Electoral Authorities in Brazil, which saw the visit of Mr. Carlos Augusto Ayres de Freitas Britto, President of the Electoral Superior Tribunal, Brazil, to India for the Diamond Jubilee Celebration of the Election Commission of India on 25 January 2010, and would lead to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Election Commission of India and the Electoral Superior Tribunal of Brazil shortly.

Dr. Singh and President Lula expressed their satisfaction at the growing cultural exchanges between India and Brazil.

The Brazilian side welcomed India’s decision to open a Cultural Center in Sco Paulo, the first of its kind in the Americas.

The Indian side, on the other hand, commended the Brazilian side on the successful organization of the “Brazilian Cultural Week” held in India in 2008.

The Brazilian side also welcomed India’s intention to organize a Festival of India in Brazil in early 2011.

Dr. Singh and President Lula welcomed the convergence of positions between Brazil and India in multilateral fora and in groups such as IBSA and BRIC, which is reflective of the growing importance of developing countries and of their role in shaping a more balanced international order in a multi-polar world.

The two leaders shared the view on the urgent need to strengthen the participation of developing countries in the decision-making processes within the multilateral financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, and political bodies, such as the United Nations.

They reaffirmed their commitment for the reform of the United Nations, particularly of the Security Council, including through its expansion in both permanent and non-permanent membership, with a view to improving its efficiency, representativeness, and legitimacy needed to meet the challenges faced by the international community today.

The two Leaders reiterated their support to each other in their quest for permanent membership in an expanded UNSC. They also expressed their commitment to join efforts to convey to other ountries the importance and urgency of the expansion of the UNSC in both permanent and non-permanent categories. President Lula expressed appreciation for India’s support for the election of Brazil as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for 2010-11 and reiterated the support of Brazil to India’s candidature for a non-permanent seat of the UNSC for the period of 2011-12. (ANI)

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India, Brazil condemn terrorism in all forms

April 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Brasilia, April 16 (ANI): Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva here on Thursday, in their joint statement, strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whoever, wherever and for whatever purpose and stressed that there can be no justification, whatsoever, for any acts of terrorism.

Both the leaders during their bilateral meet agreed to support the global struggle against terrorism in conformity with the principles of the U.N. Charter, relevant international conventions and International Law. Both sides reiterated their commitment to continue efforts for an early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on international terrorism.

They recalled the significant progress already achieved in the Doha Round of Trade Negotiations and called upon all Members to work towards a balanced agreement and to refrain from seeking excessive and additional levels of ambition from a few developing economies.

The prolonged inconclusiveness of the negotiations may threaten the credibility of the rule-based multilateral trading system, which has proved its relevance in resisting protectionism during the recent global economic crisis. Brazil and India will continue to make all efforts to build a multilateral trading system that puts development at its center.

Prime Minister Dr. Singh and President Lula reiterated that early conclusion of the Sco Paulo Round of GSTP Negotiations among developing countries in accordance with the agreement reached last December will contribute in a concrete manner towards increasing South-South trade and economic cooperation.

On the issue of Climate Change, they reaffirmed their concern for Climate Change and its adverse impacts. They committed themselves to work in close coordination including in the BASIC group towards a comprehensive, balanced, and effective outcome at the 16th Session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 6th Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, to be held in Mexico in November-December 2010.

Both the leaders welcomed the Resolution of the UN General Assembly to hold a Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in Rio de Janeiro, in 2012.

Dr. Singh and President Lula also reiterated their commitment to fight hunger and poverty, promote democratic values, and foster socially-inclusive economic development policies in their respective countries. (ANI)

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Brazil needs investment to spur growth-Coutinho

April 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment

SAO PAULO, April 11 (Reuters) – Investment in Brazil should hit 18 percent in 2010, and must stay at multiples of economic expansion to keep the country growing, the president of Brazil’s state development bank told newspaper O Estado de S.Paulo on Sunday.

The important thing “is that investment grow two to three times gross domestic product and pulls up growth,” said Luciano Coutinho, president of the BNDES bank. “This year, I expect investment to rise 18 percent and the GDP just under 6 percent. The relationship is holding, which assures sustainability.”

Nor is it time yet to start foreseeing inflation, Coutinho told the newspaper.

“It’s very early to prognosticate the appearance of inflationary pressures,” he said. “Right now, there’s no bottleneck in supply.”

Brazil’s rebounding economy has sparked fears of inflation, leading analysts to see the country’s central bank hiking the benchmark interest rate, the Selic, from its record-low 8.75 percent at an April 27-28 meeting.

When markets unraveled late in 2008, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva instructed BNDES to shore up debt-laden firms and foster mergers among those facing bankruptcy, easing fears of mass layoffs and company defaults in Latin America’s largest economy.

Brazil’s National Treasury has pumped more than $40 billion in fresh capital into BNDES since the onset of the global financial crisis at the end of 2008.

There remains a place for BNDES in the lending market, Coutinho said, while still maintaining space for private lending.

“Contributions (from the Treasury) on the scale of the past two years reflected a moment of crisis,” Coutinho said. “I don’t foresee a necessity for contributions on that scale. What matters is to put in place a virtuous process of financial development in Brazil.”

(Reporting by Luciana Lopez; editing by Gunna Dickson)

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Brazil needs investment to spur growth-Coutinho

April 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Brazil needs to sustain high investment for growth

Bonds

* Too early to see inflationary pressures

SAO PAULO, April 11 (Reuters) – Investment in Brazil should hit 18 percent in 2010, and must stay at multiples of economic expansion to keep the country growing, the president of Brazil’s state development bank told newspaper O Estado de S.Paulo on Sunday.

The important thing “is that investment grow two to three times gross domestic product and pulls up growth,” said Luciano Coutinho, president of the BNDES bank. “This year, I expect investment to rise 18 percent and the GDP just under 6 percent. The relationship is holding, which assures sustainability.”

Nor is it time yet to start foreseeing inflation, Coutinho told the newspaper.

“It’s very early to prognosticate the appearance of inflationary pressures,” he said. “Right now, there’s no bottleneck in supply.”

Brazil’s rebounding economy has sparked fears of inflation, leading analysts to see the country’s central bank hiking the benchmark interest rate, the Selic, from its record-low 8.75 percent at an April 27-28 meeting.

When markets unraveled late in 2008, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva instructed BNDES to shore up debt-laden firms and foster mergers among those facing bankruptcy, easing fears of mass layoffs and company defaults in Latin America’s largest economy.

Brazil’s National Treasury has pumped more than $40 billion in fresh capital into BNDES since the onset of the global financial crisis at the end of 2008.

There remains a place for BNDES in the lending market, Coutinho said, while still maintaining space for private lending.

“Contributions (from the Treasury) on the scale of the past two years reflected a moment of crisis,” Coutinho said. “I don’t foresee a necessity for contributions on that scale. What matters is to put in place a virtuous process of financial development in Brazil.”

(Reporting by Luciana Lopez; editing by Gunna Dickson)

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200 feared dead in mudslides as Brazil toll rises

April 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Some 200 people were feared dead in mudslides near Rio de Janeiro, officials said Thursday, adding to woes in massive flooding that has already killed more than 150 people.

“From what the neighbours said, some 200 people may be buried, but it is not clear; there could be more,” local fire chief Pedro Machado said as crews responded to mudslides in Niteroi, a city across the bay from the city of Rio.

He noted that six bodies were recovered following the mudslide late Wednesday.

Witnesses saw the collapse of a wide area of the hillside over some 700 meters, burying about 50 homes. Officials said there was little hope of finding survivors under the mountains of mud.

The six confirmed deaths raised the death toll to 151 in floods and mudslides in the area around Rio since Monday when torrential rains washed down slum-covered hillsides after the worst rains in half a century.

The toll was likely to rise further as dozens of people were reportedly still missing following the rains, which displaced more than 1,400 people and destroyed scores of homes.

Flooding over the past days has been so intense that authorities urged area residents to remain indoors.

Heavy rain, which began on Monday, fell intermittently on Wednesday amid sunny spells, providing hope that the worst was over.

Emergency officials said most fatalities were in hillside slums around the city of Rio de Janeiro, where torrents of water triggered devastating mudslides and scenes of chaos.

Trash, stones and rubble dotted the muddy hills of Niteroi on Wednesday, alongside precarious homes.

“People have nowhere to go, they’re all doomed,” said Vinicius Gomes, the cousin of a landslide victim.

Shoddy construction

Various officials and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticised decades of administrative laxity which allowed shoddy home construction in high-risk zones.

“Our aim now is to save lives. Of course we’ll have to remove houses from risk areas in Niteroi,” local mayor Jorge Silveira told journalists.

But the authorities were blasted in the press for a failure to anticipate the disaster.

“Where is the emergency plan?” was the headline in O Globo.

“The tragedies of the rains in Rio have been repeated over 40 years and the authorities do not react,” the newspaper said.

Most of the casualties were trapped in landslides in the slums around Rio, a city of some 16 million people that will host the World Cup football tournament in 2014 and the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Many sports grounds and gymnasia were flooded, including the famous Maracana stadium.

Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes ordered schools in Rio closed Wednesday for a second day, while state governor Sergio Cabral decreed three days of mourning.

The killer floods wreaked havoc with air traffic, delaying most international flights in and out of Rio’s Antonio Carlos Jobim airport and forcing the cancellation of many domestic services.

Brazil had already seen deadly deluges in Sao Paulo earlier this year after the wettest summer in the region in more than six decades.

National weather service Inmet said Tuesday’s rainfall was the heaviest in 48 years.

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G-5 leaders play victim of economic crisis shaped by developed countries

July 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

L’Aquila (Italy), July 9 (ANI): The developing countries are bearing a major brunt of the global financial crisis they did not create, the Group of Five main emerging economies said in Italy on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh highlighted the affect of the global crisis on developing countries, saying: “The developing countries have been the most affected by the global financial and economic crisis. We discussed, how we could contribute to strengthening the green shoots of recovery.

It is only through an inclusive approach that a collective global effort can be truly affect. We will stress tomorrow the importance of maintaining adequate flow of finance to the developing countries and also of keeping markets open to by resisting protectionist measures.”

He also stressed on the need to evolve a coherent strategy of growth that brings about a higher standard of living without harming the environment.

“The developing countries are also the worst affected by high food prices. We agreed that agriculture and food security need to be placed at the core of the international agenda bringing particular attention to the concerns of small and marginal farmers.

As responsible members of the international community, we recognise our obligation to preserve and protect our environment, but climate change cannot be addressed by perpetuating the poverty of the developing countries,” Singh said.

Successful conclusion of the Doha trade talks would be a major stimulus for restoring confidence in world markets, they said in a statement after talks in L’Aquila ahead of their joint summit with the Group of Eight rich nations on Thursday.

At the end of the news conference, a playful Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva handed out football shirts to his G-5 counterparts, wishing them the best of luck with their respective country’s sporting achievements. By Naveen Kapoor (ANI)

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