US supports Brazil's Security Council candidacy.

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United States Secretary of State Colin Powell said this Tuesday that Brazil is "a solid candidate" to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and praised Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for his regional leadership and international standing.

Secretary of State C. Powell
However Mr. Powell who is currently on a two days visit to Brazil and was scheduled to meet President Lula da Silva, cautioned that the US would wait until the UN appointed panel of experts now studying reforms announced its conclusions.

Brazil since last January is a non permanent member of the UN Security Council for two years. The council is made up of five permanent members, US, UK, China, France and Russia plus ten rotating biannual members.

Although US-Brazil relations have improved dramatically during the last twelve months, --Washington is thankful to President Lula da Silva's recent efforts in easing political tensions in Venezuela and leading the UN peacekeeping force in Haiti--, trade remains a stumbling block because of Brazilian recurrent complaints about trade and US agriculture subsidies.

MercoPress

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. I question the Chimps motives. I'm sure that Lula is pure but Bush is not

[bemildred]

2. Don't hold your breath on this.

If found it interesting mainly in that it was not shot down
out of hand. Colon seems to be making an effort to mend
fences down South. This is interesting by way of contrast
with the pattern of threats, propaganda, and black-bag ops we
have seen in the past. Elsewhere, if you read around in the
news, you will see that Russia and China are making deals to
invest and develop resources in Latin America. Venezuela is
making deals with Argentina for medical equipment. Maybe pissing
everybody off down there was not such a good idea. Hmmm ...

[geek tragedy]

3. I expect news of a major oil discovery shortly.