PRESIDENT ROUSSEFF PROMISES GREATER CONSISTENCE FOR MERCOSUR AND UNASUR

Brasilia, January 3- In her inauguration speech Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff promised greater consistence for Mercosur and Unasur so that the region can become an essential component of the “coming multipolar world”. She also anticiapted closer relations with all countries from Latinamerica, the Caribbean and Africa and the peoples of Middle East and a greater role for Brazil in world political and financial affairs.

“We can transform our region into an essential component of the multipolar world that is coming, giving ever greater consistence to Mercosur and Unasur (Union of South American Nations)”, said the newly inagurated president adding that “Brazil reiterates, vehmently and strongly its decision to associate its economic, social and political development to that of our continent”.

President Rousseff also emphaszied Brazil’s commitment to international financial stability “with a qualified intervention in multilateral forums” and anticipated that relations with United States and the European Union will be “preserved and deepened”.

Ms Rousseff ratified Brazil’s international stance: “our foreign policy will be based on the classic values of the Brazilian diplomatic tradition: promoting peace, respect for the principle of non intervention, defense of human rights and strengthening of multilateralim”.

However Brazil’s commitment to peace “does not allow any indifference towards the existence of huge atomic arsenals, nuclear proliferation, terrorism or trans-national organized crime”.

Finally President Rousseff said that her government will continue to promote reforms in the wolrd governance organizations, particularly in the United Nations and the Security Council.

Brazil’s strong opening towards African and Middle East countries, started under former leader Lula da Silva (who promised to continue working to promote Brazil in Africa), is interpreted as a long term strategy to ensure sufficient votes in the UN to reform the organizatin and secure a permanent seat for Latinamerica’s largest economy and most influential country in the Security Council.

Brazil’s newly sworn-in president Dilma Rousseff will visit Argentina and Uruguay for her first official international trip, according to International Affairs Secretary Marco Aurelio García.

García added that the preliminary agenda for the first trips also includes the United States and China, according to the Brazilian state news agency.

Finally, he said that Rousseff also wishes to visit Perú and Bulgaria, adding that the dates for her first international trips are being coordinated by Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota.

Rousseff met with Uruguayan President José Mujica early on Sunday morning and Patriota met with Argentina Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman, who handed Rousseff a letter from President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner on Saturday.

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