United States Secretary of State, Colin Powell, speaking to reporters during a press conference in BrasÀlia, capital of Brazil, declared that Brazil is a strong candidate for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
However, Powell went on to say that the US is awaiting a final report by the UN on structural reforms of the international organization before formally supporting any countries as new members of the council.
Brazilian Foreign Minister, Celso Amorim, replied that Brazil has not sought US support for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
“At this moment, we are also awaiting the final report on UN reforms,” he declared.
At the end of September, following a trip to the UN General Assembly session by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, England and France joined a number of other countries and announced that they would support permanent membership on the UN Security Council for Brazil.
Along with Brazil, Japan, Germany and India also seek permanent seats on the council.
In their meeting yesterday, among other things, President Lula and Secretary Powell discussed the problem of hunger in the world and the proposal made by Lula at the UN for a worldwide campaign against the problem.
Powell said that there was a difference of opinion on how to finance such a campaign. Minister Amorim said there was no need for Brazil and the US to agree on everything and called the difference of opinion something that will lead to more conversations and dialogue.
During his talks with Powell, Amorim asked for more American assistance in the reconstruction of Haiti. Amorim said such assistance need not be just financial. He said there were problems the US could help solve involving transportation, distribution and red tape that were holding up aid.
Agência Brasil
Translator: Allen Bennett