Brazil's president to visit Middle East next week
Brazil's president to visit Middle East next week
13:15, March 12, 2010 
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Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will pay an official visit to Israel, the Palestinian territories and Jordan, to discuss the Middle East peace process, the Iranian issue and trade cooperation.
The visit, scheduled for March 15-18, takes place as Brazil intends to mediate the Middle East peace process and expand trade relations with the region.
Lula will reaffirm Brazil's interest in contributing to a fair and lasting solution to the Palestinian cause, recognizing Israel's rights to exist in peace and security, and aiding the humanitarian relief efforts in the Gaza Strip, presidential spokesman Marcelo Baumbach told a press conference in Brasilia on Thursday.
"Brazil is trying to contribute and will keep on contributing to find a solution to the conflict. The president believes that Brazil... will always encourage dialogue," Baumbach said.
The spokesman described the trip as the "culmination of Brazilian politics" regarding the Palestinian issue, saying that it will serve to reiterate Brazil's support for the establishment of a viable Palestinian state in the short term and make proposals for the peace process.
Lula will also reaffirm Brazil's position on Iran, supporting Iran's right to develop nuclear program for peaceful purposes and maintaining a dialogue with Tehran, Baumbach noted.
He said that business opportunities will be explored during the visit, with focus on high-tech sectors, including semiconductors, telecommunications, nanotechnology, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
Brazil has just ratified a free trade agreement between the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) and Israel, the first one signed between the South American bloc and an extra-regional party, Baumbach said, adding that contacts on trade issues will also be deepened.
According to Baumbach, Lula will arrive in Jerusalem next Monday and meet with Israeli President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Tzipi Livni.
On Tuesday, the Brazilian leader will travel to Bethlehem to meet with Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
On Wednesday, Lula will visit Ramallah, where he will lay a wreath at the tomb of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. On the same day, Lula will go to Amman, the capital of Jordan, to meet with King Abdullah II and Prime Minister Samir Rifai, and attend the closing ceremony of a business seminar.
Source: Xinhua
The visit, scheduled for March 15-18, takes place as Brazil intends to mediate the Middle East peace process and expand trade relations with the region.
Lula will reaffirm Brazil's interest in contributing to a fair and lasting solution to the Palestinian cause, recognizing Israel's rights to exist in peace and security, and aiding the humanitarian relief efforts in the Gaza Strip, presidential spokesman Marcelo Baumbach told a press conference in Brasilia on Thursday.
"Brazil is trying to contribute and will keep on contributing to find a solution to the conflict. The president believes that Brazil... will always encourage dialogue," Baumbach said.
The spokesman described the trip as the "culmination of Brazilian politics" regarding the Palestinian issue, saying that it will serve to reiterate Brazil's support for the establishment of a viable Palestinian state in the short term and make proposals for the peace process.
Lula will also reaffirm Brazil's position on Iran, supporting Iran's right to develop nuclear program for peaceful purposes and maintaining a dialogue with Tehran, Baumbach noted.
He said that business opportunities will be explored during the visit, with focus on high-tech sectors, including semiconductors, telecommunications, nanotechnology, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
Brazil has just ratified a free trade agreement between the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) and Israel, the first one signed between the South American bloc and an extra-regional party, Baumbach said, adding that contacts on trade issues will also be deepened.
According to Baumbach, Lula will arrive in Jerusalem next Monday and meet with Israeli President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Tzipi Livni.
On Tuesday, the Brazilian leader will travel to Bethlehem to meet with Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
On Wednesday, Lula will visit Ramallah, where he will lay a wreath at the tomb of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. On the same day, Lula will go to Amman, the capital of Jordan, to meet with King Abdullah II and Prime Minister Samir Rifai, and attend the closing ceremony of a business seminar.
Source: Xinhua
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