BUENOS AIRES—The presidents of Argentina and Brazil signed a broad range of agreements Monday to cooperate on everything from nuclear power development to broadband expansion and regional pharmaceutical standards.
In her first state visit abroad, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff met with Argentine President Cristina Kirchner to underscore the importance of political and economic ties between the countries.
The presidents, who touted the meeting as a historical event between two women who lead South American nations, pledged to build literal and figurative bridges between the nations.
Among other things, they will work together to promote the development of biofuels in the region, share research on two new 30-megawatt nuclear reactors, exchange electricity and boost broadband access in the region.
In addition, the presidents said they will work together on common pharmaceutical goals that should help the counties to reduce their "dependence" on imported drugs from other regions.
Meanwhile, the cooperation in nuclear research on the new reactors will be based on a reactor that the Argentine technology company Invap produced for Australia.
The multipurpose reactors will allow for joint work on radioisotopes and food irradiation, among other things.
The countries will also build a new international bridge that crosses the Pepiri-Guazu river to connect the cities of San Pedro in Argentina and Paraiso in Brazil.
Ms. Rousseff, a 62-year old former leftist guerilla, was elected Brazil's first woman president last October after serving as a cabinet minister in the government of her predecessor, the immensely popular Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. It was the first time Ms. Rousseff had run for elective office.
Argentina's president, by contrast, is a consummate politician. A trained lawyer, Ms. Kirchner, 57, has had stints as senator for the provinces of Santa Cruz and Buenos Aires before succeeding her husband, the late Nestor Kirchner, in the presidency in 2007.
The countries also pledged to work together on public housing projects and the joint promotion of trade and exports to other countries.
Argentina and Brazil were rivals for much of the 20th century. However, Argentina's influence has waned on the continent as Brazil reaps the fruits of nearly two decades of political stability and economic reforms.
Brazil, which boasts Latin America's largest economy, is increasingly flexing its economic and political muscle abroad. Brazilian corporations are global heavyweights in mining, aerospace, steel and food processing, while Brazil's voice is increasingly heard in the Group of 20 industrialized and big emerging nations, and in other international organizations.
Political continuity and economic stability have proven elusive in Argentina. The free-market policies of the 1990s, which are blamed for devastating local industry, were followed by a sovereign debt crisis and economic meltdown in 2001-2002.
Argentina's economy has posted high levels of growth under Ms. Kirchner and her husband, but at the cost of inflation that is widely believed to be running more than double the official 10.9% reported for 2010.
Argentina, South America's No. 2 economy, and Brazil have increasingly looked to cooperate on trade and foreign policy issues. Brazil has backed Argentina's claims of sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, which the United Kingdom controls, and the two neighboring nations dominate the southern cone customs union, known as Mercosur, whose other founding members are Uruguay and Paraguay.
Brazil is also Argentina's top trading partner. Trade between the neighboring countries has grown tenfold in the last two decades to nearly $33 billion last year.
Source: http://online.wsj.com
Showing posts with label Brazil's president. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brazil's president. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Brazil welcomes first female president
Brazil's first female president, Dilma Rousseff, was to take control of Latin America's biggest economy Saturday from outgoing popular leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a triumphant handover ceremony.
Rousseff, a 63-year-old economist and Lula's former cabinet chief, was to be driven through the capital Brasilia in an open-top Rolls-Royce to her new destiny, under the watchful gaze of police snipers and warm, gray skies that threatened rain.
For many of the estimated 70,000 people turned out to see the event, it was more a farewell for Lula than a warm welcome for his successor.
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"I came to see Lula, because he governed well, and I hope she will do so too, because we need a president that wants to end the violence and the slums," one Brasilia local, Vera Pereira Silva, told AFP.
Rousseff is taking over a country with an economy that grew an enviable 7.6 percent in 2010, enjoys recently discovered oil finds that could make it a big-league exporter, has won a significant role on the world stage, and is preparing to host the 2014 football World Cup and 2016 Olympics.
But huge challenges loom ahead.
Growth is expected to slide to 4.5 percent in 2011, inflation is well above the government target at an estimated 5.9 percent and rising, and an aim to cut public debt from 42 percent to 30 percent is likely to meet resistance, not least because Brazil desperately needs more and better infrastructure.
Brazil's currency, the real, has more than doubled in value against the dollar during Lula's eight years in power, and looks set to rise further, undermining the competitivity of Brazilian exporters.
Rousseff, a leftwing former guerrilla who was tortured in prison in the 1970s for opposing the then-military government, will also inherit a diplomatic row with Italy.
On his last day in power, Friday, Lula sparked the spat by refusing to extradite an Italian former militant, Cesare Battisti, convicted of four murders in the 1970s.
A furious Rome had withdrawn its ambassador in protest and warned it would up the pressure to have Battisti handed over.
Brazil's Supreme Court is to examine the legality of Lula's decision in February when it returns from its recess, handing Rousseff the dilemma until then.
Even the prestige of the World Cup and Olympics will require careful attention.
Works to get the country ready for the football event are behind schedule. A recent clampdown on violent gangs in Rio's notorious slums will have to be sustained and expanded up to the Olympics to overcome security fears.
Finally, Rousseff faces uncertainty in her re-election chances in four years' time -- from her mentor.
Lula was only stepping down Saturday because Brazil's constitution limits presidents to two consecutive mandates.
But he has described himself as a "natural-born politician" who would not rule out a return to office.
A former trade union leader, he deftly employed his negotiating skills in international diplomacy and to stay firmly in charge of the ruling Workers Party.
His genuine man-of-the-people demeanour translated into an 87-percent popularity rating by the end of his reign.
Rousseff, in contrast, has never before held elected office and largely persuaded voters to give her the presidency on the strength of her promises to continue Lula's policies.
"My heart is divided. Lula was a statesman, a very charismatic man who represented the working class, and all of us are sad to see him go," said Maristela Leal, a teacher come to watch the ceremony.
"I feel better represented by Lula than by Dilma. But I have a lot of hope for her, and I think it's important to have a woman as president," she said.
Rousseff recognizes she has little of Lula's charisma, but has promised to make up for it with the sort of hard work and determination that has already earned her the nickname "the Iron Lady."
Though Lula campaigned hard to make her his successor, in his final days in office he hinted he could consider a comeback in 2014 if she failed to uphold his legacy.
He would watch Rousseff's performance, he said, adding: "The only possibility I see of Dilma not being a candidate in 2014 is if she doesn't want to be."
By Marc Burleigh
Source: http://news.smh.com.au
Rousseff, a 63-year-old economist and Lula's former cabinet chief, was to be driven through the capital Brasilia in an open-top Rolls-Royce to her new destiny, under the watchful gaze of police snipers and warm, gray skies that threatened rain.
For many of the estimated 70,000 people turned out to see the event, it was more a farewell for Lula than a warm welcome for his successor.
Advertisement: Story continues below
"I came to see Lula, because he governed well, and I hope she will do so too, because we need a president that wants to end the violence and the slums," one Brasilia local, Vera Pereira Silva, told AFP.
Rousseff is taking over a country with an economy that grew an enviable 7.6 percent in 2010, enjoys recently discovered oil finds that could make it a big-league exporter, has won a significant role on the world stage, and is preparing to host the 2014 football World Cup and 2016 Olympics.
But huge challenges loom ahead.
Growth is expected to slide to 4.5 percent in 2011, inflation is well above the government target at an estimated 5.9 percent and rising, and an aim to cut public debt from 42 percent to 30 percent is likely to meet resistance, not least because Brazil desperately needs more and better infrastructure.
Brazil's currency, the real, has more than doubled in value against the dollar during Lula's eight years in power, and looks set to rise further, undermining the competitivity of Brazilian exporters.
Rousseff, a leftwing former guerrilla who was tortured in prison in the 1970s for opposing the then-military government, will also inherit a diplomatic row with Italy.
On his last day in power, Friday, Lula sparked the spat by refusing to extradite an Italian former militant, Cesare Battisti, convicted of four murders in the 1970s.
A furious Rome had withdrawn its ambassador in protest and warned it would up the pressure to have Battisti handed over.
Brazil's Supreme Court is to examine the legality of Lula's decision in February when it returns from its recess, handing Rousseff the dilemma until then.
Even the prestige of the World Cup and Olympics will require careful attention.
Works to get the country ready for the football event are behind schedule. A recent clampdown on violent gangs in Rio's notorious slums will have to be sustained and expanded up to the Olympics to overcome security fears.
Finally, Rousseff faces uncertainty in her re-election chances in four years' time -- from her mentor.
Lula was only stepping down Saturday because Brazil's constitution limits presidents to two consecutive mandates.
But he has described himself as a "natural-born politician" who would not rule out a return to office.
A former trade union leader, he deftly employed his negotiating skills in international diplomacy and to stay firmly in charge of the ruling Workers Party.
His genuine man-of-the-people demeanour translated into an 87-percent popularity rating by the end of his reign.
Rousseff, in contrast, has never before held elected office and largely persuaded voters to give her the presidency on the strength of her promises to continue Lula's policies.
"My heart is divided. Lula was a statesman, a very charismatic man who represented the working class, and all of us are sad to see him go," said Maristela Leal, a teacher come to watch the ceremony.
"I feel better represented by Lula than by Dilma. But I have a lot of hope for her, and I think it's important to have a woman as president," she said.
Rousseff recognizes she has little of Lula's charisma, but has promised to make up for it with the sort of hard work and determination that has already earned her the nickname "the Iron Lady."
Though Lula campaigned hard to make her his successor, in his final days in office he hinted he could consider a comeback in 2014 if she failed to uphold his legacy.
He would watch Rousseff's performance, he said, adding: "The only possibility I see of Dilma not being a candidate in 2014 is if she doesn't want to be."
By Marc Burleigh
Source: http://news.smh.com.au
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