Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took advantage of the United Nations General Assembly (and his own Action Against Hunger conference) to hold bilateral meetings with the president of Argentina, Nestor Kirchner, and the president of France, Jacques Chirac. He also met with union leaders who live in the US.
According to minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim, Chirac expressed full support for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council for Brazil.
Lula and Chirac discussed the completion of the bridge over the Oiapoque River which will connect northern Brazil to French Guiana.
A presidential decree authorized the construction in September 2002, but it has not been finished.
“One of the characteristics of the Lula administration is that political willpower overcomes red tape no matter how thick it may be. The presidents want to inaugurate the bridge over the Oiapoque River next year,” explained Amorim.
President Lula invited France to participate in meetings of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty.
“France is already present in French Guiana and any day now it may join Mercosur,” said a playful Amorim.
Agência Brasil
Reporter:Gabriela Guerreiro
Translator: Allen Bennett
