MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

US insists with FTAA negotiations.

United States Ambassador in Brazil John Danilovich said in Rio do Janeiro that negotiations for the creation of the Free Trade of the Americas Association, should resume before the end of 2004.

Ambassador Danilovich said it would be unrealistic and "humanly impossible" to achieve FTAA by January 2005 as was originally agreed but highlighted that President George Bush sees free trade as the "fuel" for the development of the world economy, and one of the standing issues of bilateral relations between Brazil and Washington.

However there are still no details how discussions will actually evolve and if US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick will continue with the job.

"Bob is tough, but that's his job", said Mr. Danilovich who expects Mr. Zoellick as well as Secretary of State Colin Powell to remain with President Bush's second term in spite of US press reports to the contrary.

"So far those are all speculations".

Ambassador Danilovich praised Brazilian president Lula da Silva and his Finance Minister Antonio Palocci, and confirmed that Washington will continue to support Brazil in South America, "a stabilizing force" in the area.

Brazil's leadership in the Haiti situation was also underlined.

The US ambassador admitted that South America was not an issue in the recent presidential dispute but pragmatically argued that "it wasn't mentioned because it's not a problem, and Brazil is doing well".

Further on Mr. Danilovich pointed out that "President Bush's victory is a clear signal of support from the American people for his home and foreign policies".

"For its survival the US has a very clear agenda as far as democracy, freedom and justice is concerned. It's the same which helped us defeat Nazism, Communism and has well served the country and the world. We're in a war like those before and I believe that defeating terror will benefit not only the US but also the world", concluded Ambassador Danilovich.