Bush, da Silva are committed to partnership

The Miami Herald, Posted on Sat, Jun. 21, 2003 By NANCY SAN MARTIN nsanmartin@herald.com

WASHINGTON - Exchanging handshakes and smiles with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President Bush sent a clear message Friday that he is prepared to set aside ideological differences in favor of a firm and profitable relationship with Latin America's largest country.

''Brazil is an incredibly important part of a peaceful and prosperous North and South America,'' Bush said as he welcomed da Silva to the White House. ``This relationship is a vital and important and growing relationship.''

Da Silva also touted the importance of a solid partnership, but stressed that it ''should be on the basis of sincerity'' and not ``just build up a spectacle for the press and for the public.''

''I believe that Brazil is and can continue to be a good partner of the United States,'' da Silva said. ``Without any question, I believe that we can surprise the world in terms of the relationship.''

The gathering was more than just a cordial exchange between two leaders. It involved high-ranking Cabinet members from both governments, and by the end of the day they had committed to a series of joint initiatives, ranging from agriculture to energy to health programs for combating AIDS in Portuguese-speaking parts of Africa.

HIGH POINT

''The high point of the meeting was when we discussed the need for guaranteeing peace in the world,'' da Silva said at a news conference later in the day.

``To guarantee peace, you have to think of the development of the poorest regions . . . We must make up for wasted time in South America.''

Bush, who has met with da Silva three times over the past six months, personally complimented a man who rose from poverty to trade union activist to leader of a country with the world's ninth-largest economy.

''I'm very impressed by the vision of the president of Brazil,'' Bush said of da Silva, who took office Jan. 1. ``He's a man who clearly has deep concerns for all the people of Brazil. He not only has a tremendous heart, but he's got the abilities to work closely with his government and the people of Brazil to encourage prosperity and to end hunger.''

With a population of about 180 million -- the Western Hemisphere's second most populous country after the United States -- Brazil has the largest economy in South America. Trade between the United States and Brazil is impressive, totaling $26 billion last year.

REGIONAL CONCERNS

Beyond bilateral interests, such as the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas that Washington is pushing for implementation by 2005, the two leaders also discussed regional concerns. Among them: crime, drug trafficking and continuing instability in Colombia and Venezuela.

Both stressed the importance of supporting an end to the civil war in Colombia and of a referendum to resolve the political crisis surrounding Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez.