Brazil Wants Regional Meeting on Iraq
www.newsmax.com NewsMax Wires Saturday, Feb. 15, 2003
SAO PAULO, Brazil -- Brazil's president spoke with regional leaders Friday proposing a meeting to discuss the consequences of a U.S. showdown with Iraq.
In his telephone conversations with the presidents of Argentina, Chile and Ecuador, Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva reportedly discussed how heightened tensions in the Middle East and the possibility of war have already adversely affected the economies of their respective nations.
"The war menace has already caused negative economic consequences to Brazil, even though we are we are many kilometers away from the point of conflict stage of the conflict," stressed presidential spokesman Andre Singer.
"The consequences could be much more perverse than they already have been."
Along with global markets, Brazil, too, has experienced a slump in its leading economic indicator -- the Bovespa index -- and its currency -- the real -- has posted regular losses in recent weeks.
Its neighbors are also reportedly feeling the sting of rising fuel costs due to concerns about stymied oil supplies in the event of prolonged fighting and global economic malaise caused by war concerns.
The Lula administration had remained upbeat about its economic situation until as recently as Thursday when Finance Minister Antonio Palocci said "an eventual war will not provoke a crisis for Brazil" despite the ill effects the continent's largest economy has already experienced.
'Best Possible Scenario'
Lula's Chief of Staff Jose Dirceu assured Brazilians this week that the president and his Cabinet "have worked toward creating the best possible scenario" in the event of a war to ensure the stability of the economy, though did not specify exactly what measures were taken.
Brazil has, however, adopted a decidedly anti-war stance since the United States first threatened military action against Iraq, issuing regular statements calling for the Bush administration to defer to the judgment of the United Nation's Security Council.
Earlier this week, the Foreign Ministry said it was "greatly interested in the joint declaration by Russia, France and Germany" denouncing U.S. proposals to use military force to make Iraq comply with council resolutions and remove President Saddam Hussein from power.
Lula now appears to be attempting to rally refiofal stppgrt for Brazil's stance in an effort to make the concerns of South American nations heard by the rest of the international community.
Brazilian officials said earlier Friday that Lula was scheduled to call President George W. Bush and express his concerns about the U.S. stance on Iraq. It was unclear whether Lula did indeed speak with Bush.
Copyright 2003 by United Press International.
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