Alexandre Rocha
São Paulo – President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva proposed today (14), during the opening ceremony of the 11th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad), the creation of an "international political center for funding development" in the United Nations (UN) scope.
"Each historical cycle has its own intellectual powerhouse for strategic reference. We wish that a center be created to radiate innovative projects and policies in the combat against hunger, poverty and development bottlenecks," said the president.
He suggested that, if created, such an organ should receive the name of Brazilian economist Celso Furtado, to whom prestige was given today at the opening of Unctad. "He (Furtado) embodies, more than anyone, the spirit that led to the foundation of this institution (Unctad)," said Unctad secretary-general, ambassador Rubens Ricupero. The economist was not present at the ceremony due to health problems.
Lula added that, such a center, will "help to build a new agenda for development in a moment of new globalization challenges." "Globalization is not synonymous with development. But globalization can be an instrument of development, as long as its benefits may be shared among all," the president concluded.
