A planned gas pipeline that will run from Venezuela throught Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia and Chile is the solution for the region’s natural gas problem, declared Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, this Monday morning, May 8 on his weekly radio program "Breakfast with the President" (Café com o Presidente).
"This is a really big gas pipeline [it will be the longest in the world] and it can resolve the supply problem for a century. We are working on this," said Lula.
The president was referring to his meeting last week with presidents Néstor Kirchner (Argentina), Evo Morales (Bolivia) and Hugo Chávez (Venezuela).
Lula also declared that Brazil’s role, as South America’s largest economy, was to help neighboring nations grow. "We do not want to be an island of development circled by poor countries," said the president. "We want everybody to grow."
Lula went on to say that the best way to resolve problems with Bolivia, following the nationalization of its natural resources last week, is at the negotiating table and not by using punitive measures.
"We are not going to retaliate against a country that is much poorer than Brazil, with more hungry people than Brazil. I know that there are some who think we should take a hard line position. But we are peaceful, we want to reach an agreement. That is the best thing Brazil can do," declared Lula.
ABr