Brazil

• Friday, August 28th 2009 - 19:59 UTC

  Brazilian general questions Lula da Silva’ stance on the Amazon

  

  The Brazilian government magnified the importance of the deployment of US troops in Colombian military bases, according to Brazilian retired Army general Luiz Eduardo Rocha Paiva who is also a lecturer in strategic affairs.

• Friday, August 28th 2009 - 19:29 UTC

  Lula da Silva and Sarney promise quick approval of Itaipú accord

  

  Brazilian president Lula da Silva and the head of the Senate Jose Sarney promised a delegation of visiting Paraguayan lawmakers that the Itaipú dam accord reached last July will receive congressional approval as soon as possible.

• Thursday, August 27th 2009 - 16:23 UTC

  AF 447: Brazil families demand crash probe

  

  Relatives of Brazilian victims of the Air France crash in the mid-Atlantic earlier this year have called for a criminal investigation to be opened into the incident.

• Tuesday, August 25th 2009 - 02:43 UTC

  Brazilian cabinet divided over taking military torturers to trial

  

  Taking to trial those responsible for human rights abuses during the military dictatorship that ruled Brazil from 1964 to 1985 has divided the administration of President Lula da Silva, particularly some of its most influential ministers, according to the Sao Paulo press.

• Monday, August 24th 2009 - 11:28 UTC

  Brazil reaffirms influence in Bolivia and support for Evo Morales

  

  President Lula da Silva reaffirmed Brazil’s influence during his visit to Bolivia where he announced the opening of the Brazilian market to Bolivian textiles and extended a loan to build a leg of the bi-oceanic corridor which will eventually join Santos in the Atlantic with Iquique on the Pacific.

• Monday, August 24th 2009 - 11:09 UTC

  Presidential bid from former minister could undermine Lula da Silva’s plans

  

  Brazil's former environment minister Senator Marina Silva has left the ruling Workers' Party, paving the way for an expected presidential run in the October 2010 election. The opposition praised her attitude and her former party companions said they have no resentment towards her.

• Saturday, August 22nd 2009 - 11:27 UTC

  Brazilian president arrives in Bolivia with strong tone-down message

  

  Brazilian president Lula da Silva considers that differences inside the Union of South American Nations, Unasur are more “a matter of form than content” because “our main objectives are compatible and at the same time convergent” according to an interview in Bolivia’s leading newspaper La Razon.

• Saturday, August 22nd 2009 - 11:08 UTC

  Lula da Silva suggested to Obama a meeting to discuss US forces in Colombia

  

  Brazilian president Lula da Silva suggested to his peer Barack Obama that he should meet with South American leaders to address the announced presence of US forces in seven Colombian bases.

• Friday, August 21st 2009 - 13:16 UTC

  Brazil becomes Chile’s third largest trading partner

  

  Brazil has become Chile’s third largest trading partner, displacing Japan, according to recently released government trade figures. Total July trade between Chile and Brazil was US$547 million, compared to the US$446 million in trade between Chile and Japan during July.

• Thursday, August 20th 2009 - 16:05 UTC

  Argentina and Brazil moving towards “financial integration”

  

  Argentina and Brazil signed Wednesday an agreement to swap domestic currencies for the equivalent of a total 1.8 billion US dollars, which could be used to increase international reserves. The accord was described as an important effort towards “financial integration” in the framework of Mercosur.