Brazil
Brazil feed“Non aggression pact” to end secrecy of military agreements in South America
Brazilian diplomacy is working on a “non aggression” pact which it will propose to Colombia and other regional governments following on the military agreement signed by Bogotá with Washington and which has caused much concern in Brazil according to the Sao Paulo press.
Obama has forgotten about Latinamerica, claims Lula da Silva
Brazilian president Lula da Silva claims that his United States peer, Barack Obama has forgotten about Latinamerica after having promised a new relation with the continent. He also revealed he was working for a meeting between Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez and Colombia’s Alvaro Uribe “so they can address their differences”.
Lula da Silva is “illiterate” and a “coarse speaker”
Renowned Brazilian singer Caetano Veloso gave his full support to Green party presidential hopeful Marina Silva that he expects will show more elegance and pragmatism than President Lula da Silva, whom he described as “illiterate” and a “coarse speaker”.
Brazilian Senate postpones vote on Venezuela’s Mercosur incorporation
In related news the Brazilian Senate postponed for a week a full house vote on the incorporation of Venezuela to Mercosur which is pending since March 2007 when the administration of President Lula da Silva sent the request.
Brazilian industry suggests direct negotiations with EU, leaving aside Mercosur
Brazil’s all powerful Sao Paulo Federation of Industries, FIESP, said it is willing to yield positions so a free trade agreement can be reached with the European Union but also suggested Brazil should leave Mercosur aside.
Argentina/Brazil trade dispute: partners can’t agree who’s to blame
Argentina has accused Brazil of not keeping to agreed “self regulated” bilateral trade understandings originally destined as an umbrella for Argentine industry, and instead has resorted to customs barriers which are delaying or impeding exports.
Brazil fears a “bubble” pumped by exuberant investors; Real 19% too strong
Brazilian central bank President Henrique Meirelles admitted “exuberant” investors might create an asset bubble in Latinamerica’s biggest economy.
Brazil’s reserves reach new record in October: 232.9 billion US dollars
Brazil’s foreign reserves totaled 232.9 billion US dollars at the end of October, up from 224.2 billion at the end of September. In the first ten months of 2009, reserves were up 26.1 billion. Reserves ended last year at 206.8 billion.
Petrobras receives Chinese financing to develop sub-salt oil resources
Brazil’s government managed oil and gas group Petrobras announced Wednesday it had signed a contract permitting the first payment from a 10 billion US dollar loan from China to help it finance upcoming investments.
Brazilian opposition to vote against Venezuela in Mercosur
The Brazilian opposition announced it will attempt to delay as much as possible the Senate vote on the incorporation of Venezuela to Mercosur which is scheduled to take place Wednesday following the approval by the Foreign Affaire committee last week.
