BRASÍLIA - Brazil got Spain's support to integrate the United Nation's Security Council in a permanent manner. The Prime Minister of Spain, José María Aznar, said, on Wednesday (29), during the meeting with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, at Itamaraty, that he has a "live empathy" for Brazil's aspiration in the UN.

The Spanish Prime Minister understands the logic that is behind the Brazilian plea and shows empathy to the choice of Brazil to occupy a seat in the Council.

According to the Itamaraty spokesman, Ricardo Neiva Tavares, Aznar's support was very significant, since Spain has shown to be resistant to the UN's safety council being opened to the new permanent members. "I believe this was the first time the Spanish Prime Minister demonstrated this (support to Brazil) publicly," said the spokesman.

Aznar also shares President Lula's opinion by defending a UN restoration process as a way to allow the agency to perform in the service of the stability of the governments throughout the world, particularly those of the poorer countries.

Mercosur and Spain - Spain, according to its Prime Minister, is interested in having the Mercosur (Common Southern Market) make an agreement with the European Union, as Spain already has individual agreements with Mexico and Chile.

"The process of Spain's trust in Brazil manifests itself in the fact that Spain ranks second among the countries that most invest in Brazil and, therefore, our expression of trust and our desire is that this agreement be extended to the entire European Union," said Aznar.

Spain's intention is to give the maximum impulse to intensify the trade ties between Brazil and Spain, as well as with South America as a whole, emphasized Aznar. "We hope our work helps strengthen democracy and enhance prosperity conditions in all countries."

Brazil and Spain - Lula announced a joint declaration with Aznar for the Brazil-Spain ties to be enhanced and to become "increasingly concrete." Spain is currently the second biggest foreign investor in Brazil. We hope this presence can be increased as the Brazilian economy retakes the path towards growth and merits more trust from the international financial community," said Lula.

Also according to Agência Brasil, last year, Spanish investments in Brazil totaled $25 billion, with emphasis to the telecommunications, financial and energetic areas.

The Brazilian government's intention is to increase the participation of Brazilian companies in Spain, and of Spanish companies in Brazil, according to Lula, who announced the creation of two work groups to discuss commercial matters and the regulation landmark for companies that intend to invest in the two countries. President Lula confirmed his presence, in November, in the Iberian-American Summit Meeting, to be held in the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

Brazilian credibility - The tax and social security reforms in progress in Brazil got support from the Spanish Prime Minister. According to him, the reforms will lead "to the progressive increment of the Brazilian trustworthiness and credibility in the world." According to the Spanish Prime Minister, the reforms will also ensure Brazil's economic stability and improve the population's quality of life.

Aznar showed support to another one of President Lula's desires: the end of the trade barriers. The Prime Minister acknowledged the difficulties for free trade between all of the countries in the world, but he guaranteed he will work on (the end of the trade barriers) to be put into practice. "We believe the world will be better if we are able to achieve greater commercial opening," he said.

Lula received the Prime Minister of Spain at 11 A.M. At 1 P.M. there was a lunch in honor of Aznar, who participated in a press conference at 2:40 P.M. At 7 P.M., at the Blue Tree Park Hotel, the President participated in the closing ceremony of the Fourth Plenary Meeting of the Mercosur European Union Business Forum, together with the Prime Minister of Spain.

Agencia Brasileira de Notícias - 30/10/03