Isaura Daniel, special envoy*
Brasília – "We are faced with a historic opportunity to launch the fundaments for solid cooperation between South America and the Arab world." With these words the president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, opened today, at around 10:00 am, the summit between Arab and South American countries, at the Ulysses Guimarães Convention Centre, in Brazilian capital Brasília. The summit between the heads of state of both regions is taking place today and tomorrow.
Lula was strongly applauded by those present, mainly businessmen and diplomats, when he said that the meeting feels like meeting the Arabs again. "To Brazil, to our continent, this summit has the feeling of meeting again, another meeting between the South Americans and the civilization that came here first through its influence on the Iberian peninsula and then by immigration," he said.
The president pointed out, however, that these ties may also be used for the construction of solid economic relations. "More than rescuing the sentimental funds, we are trying to add value to these assets to create an important chapter in relations between two important regions in the developing world. We want to make use of this same potential to accomplish common objectives," he said.
Lula also mentioned the need for work for greater justice in foreign trade. "It is necessary to promote equity in a trade system that is profoundly marked by asymmetries and distortions. We must establish ourselves in the face of an economic order that is resistant to the interests of developing countries," he said. Lula stated that the objective is to have trade free of subsidies imposed by the rich countries.
The efforts for economic growth, according to Lula, should be made in favour of reduction of social inequalities, the promotion of human rights and the improvement of democratic institutions. "What moves the leaders who are present here is the need to strengthen a political space that contributes to the construction of peace, democracy and social justice," he said.
*Translated by Mark Ament
