Brasília – President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said, in an exclusive interview to ANBA, that Brazil may help in the development of Palestine. “As we are doing with many countries in the world,” he said. Next week Lula is going to visit the country, in the first trip of a Brazilian president to the Palestinian territories.
He is going to the Middle East in the company of a delegation of businessmen to “mine” business and partnership opportunities. The president guaranteed that the trade agreement signed between the Mercosur and Israel does not include products made in Israeli settlements in the occupied territories.
Lula said that the policy of generation of closer ties between Brazil and other developing countries should continue with his successor, be he, or she, a situation or opposition candidate. “I consider our international policy so successful that I don’t believe anybody would want to change it,” he said. Read the interview below:
ANBA – Mr. President, a delegation of businessmen is going to accompany you on this trip [to Israel, Palestine and Jordan]. What can we expect in commercial terms?
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva – Look, every time we have a meeting with another country and we take businessmen, in truth it is a process that I consider almost mining. That is, Brazilian businessmen meet with businessmen from other countries and they discover chances among themselves, business opportunities, possible partnerships between companies. The result has been extraordinary. See, it is the first time that a group of businessmen is going to travel to Palestine to discuss development, partnerships and to research opportunities. I think it is a very relevant factor. In all meetings I have been telling my ministers: “Let’s take businessmen, because when they meet and start talking, we soon notice that Brazil is buying or selling something”. So that is the objective, to develop our ties with Palestine further, as they are very small in the commercial point of view.
The Mercosur has already negotiated a trade agreement with Israel and the Palestinians complain that there are Israeli settlements. They say that Brazil, the Mercosur, in this case, should not accept products made in the settlements in the agreement…
But that is forecasted in the agreement, that the commission that accompanies it will not allow the entry of products made [in Israeli settlements] in Palestinian territory.
In the institutional point of view, is there any possibility of Brazilian interest in an agreement with Palestine?
There is a possibility not just of an agreement with Palestine, but of Brazil helping the Palestinians develop, grow and seeing what we can help build there, as we are doing in many countries worldwide. Two important matters for Palestine are [being discussed] in the National Congress: first the donation of land for the installation of a Palestinian Delegation (embassy) in Brasília, already approved at the Lower House in November and scheduled for final discussion at the Justice Committee of the Federal Senate, with possible approval this week; and the donation of US$ 10 million for the reconstruction of Gaza, also already approved at the Lower House and currently awaiting approval from the Foreign Relations Committee at the Federal Senate.
Do you know what needs Brazil could supply at this moment?
No. You see, first of all we have people studying that. After that, a team heads there, you know, to discuss the findings with people and study areas in which we may sign protocols of intentions, which will certainly be ready for signing when we get there. What is important is that it is the first trip by a Brazilian head of state to Palestine. I grant great importance to that, as the trip of the president of the Republic is what makes the difference with regard to two peoples.
Ever since your inauguration in office you have been seeking closer ties with developing nations. With the Arab nations, there was significant expansion in trade and you are even going to be honoured by the Arab Brazilian Chamber in São Paulo on the 25th. This is your last year in office. What can we expect? Will this policy be maintained by your successor, especially if he is in the opposition?
I consider our international policy so successful that I don’t believe anybody would want to change it. It is obviously always possible to do more. And if [Chief of Staff and situation candidate to the Presidency] Dilma [Rouseff] wins the elections she will certainly improve what we are doing and do much more. After all, she is already going to receive the policies in extraordinary progress. She is then going to be able to foster them. And if the winner is the opposition candidate, I think it would be very hard for them to invert the situation, as it would be very bad for Brazil.
You said that up to the end of the year you are going to try to do all you can for the peace process [between Israelis and Palestinians]. What about after your term in office, what do you plan to do?
Me? I don’t know…, eat at Arab restaurants (laughs). I am sincerely not thinking about what to do later.
Are you interested in taking on any kind of international engagement?
No. I want no more engagements. That is enough. There is still much to do. I certainly have much to do inside and outside Brazil, but I do not want to think about that now, because I still have a few months in office and they are the most delicate ones, because the heads of part of the country are turned to the electoral process, to take place in October. Many people in the government are going to run for office. That is, soon, if we do not take care, the country is planning elections and the government is paralysed. So, my job is to make the country operate correctly up to December 31st 2010…, so that on the following day, at 10:00 am, I can hand the title over to whoever is entitled to it.
*Translated by Mark Ament
