November 23, 2004

NEWS RELEASE

At the invitation of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Prime Minister Paul Martin of Canada, completed a working visit in Brasilia on the 23rd of November. The two leaders underscored the strengthening and deepening ties between Brazil and Canada. They affirmed their partnership globally and in the hemisphere and in the promotion of a more just, secure and prosperous democratic world.

Prime Minister Paul Martin and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva reaffirmed their shared commitment to sustainable development, equitable economic growth and good governance.

Recalling that millions of people worldwide are living below the poverty line, they recognized that tackling famine and poverty is the responsibility of both developing and developed countries alike. Prime Minister Paul Martin congratulated President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on his leadership of the Global Initiative Against Hunger and Poverty, which focuses international attention on the need to eradicate famine and reduce poverty, and calls for further study of innovative sources of financing for development.

The President congratulated the Prime Minister on his co-Chairmanship of the United Nations Commission on the Private Sector and Development report, “Unleashing Entrepreneurship: Making Business Work for the Poor”. Both expressed their strong conviction that all leaders of the world should join efforts to ensure that all people enjoy an adequate standard of living and social well-being.

To this end, the President and Prime Minister emphasized the importance of implementing the commitments made at the Millennium Summit, the UN Conference on Financing and Development and the Special Summit of the Americas. Looking ahead to the next Summit of the Americas, to be held in Argentina in November 2005, they endorsed its theme of creating jobs and combating poverty, and strengthening democratic governance.

In keeping with the international community’s responsibility for stabilization, the construction of democratic institutions and political reconciliation in Haiti, the President and the Prime Minister agreed to continue to work together to re-establish order and promote dialogue as the necessary foundation for the holding of free, transparent elections in November 2005, open to the various political movements of Haitian society. They called on all groups to disarm and to participate in the political process, with the aim of ending the confrontation. In this context, the President and the Prime Minister pledged to work together, and with the Friends of Haiti, to cooperate with the transition government and the people of Haiti, to revitalize their institutions.

Emphasizing that the re-establishment of security in Haiti depends also on an environment conducive to the resumption of social and economic activity, the two leaders underscored the urgency of the international community’s support for disarmament, political reconciliation, and economic reconstruction including by deployment of resources committed at the July 2004 Donor’s Conference.

Both leaders recognized the strategic roles that Brazil and Canada have to play in Haiti-and the responsibilities that accompany these roles.

The Prime Minister saluted Brazil for its leadership of MINUSTAH, the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti. The President congratulated the Prime Minister for Canadian leadership of the stabilization force in Haiti prior to the arrival of MINUSTAH, and expressed Brazil’s gratitude for Canada’s contribution of civilian police to the Mission.

In the spirit of both countries’ development efforts in Haiti, the two leaders have decided to send, with urgency, a joint mission of technical experts in the area of public health and are examining other areas for joint partnership with Haiti.

Recognizing that the challenges in the realms of international security, equitable economic growth and the global environment require effective multilateral cooperation and decision-making mechanisms that are both more effective and more representative, the President and the Prime Minister agreed to work together to fill gaps in the international architecture and strengthen multilateral mechanisms, in particular, through the reform of the United Nations. Both leaders look forward to the recommendations of the United Nations High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change, as a tool to assist the international community’s deliberation on the urgent decisions which will have to be made through 2005.

The President and the Prime Minister underlined the fact that the United Nations’ role in the promotion of development and in the eradication of poverty and hunger will have to be stimulated by proposals of Secretary-General Kofi Annan with regard to financing for development as well as the Millennium Development Goals.

They expressed their desire for an early and successful conclusion to the Doha Development Agenda of World Trade Organization negotiations.

The President and the Prime Minister recognized the utility of new approaches, such as a meeting of G20 Leaders, in providing new fora for discussion by developing and developed countries on issues of global concern as development, public health and terrorism among others.

They expressed concern with global over-fishing and its effects on the environment, and committed to working with like-minded countries on the issue.

They welcomed the signing of the “Memorandum of Understanding on Climate Change Initiatives, Including Clean Development Mechanisms Projects”.

Bilaterally, the Prime Minister and the President noted with pleasure the growing trade and investment ties that bring Canada and Brazil together.

With respect to the discussions regarding support for the respective aircraft industries, the leaders note the advances made to date in the bilateral talks, particularly in deepening mutual understanding, improving transparency and instilling confidence. They agreed to work towards an early agreement that may pave the way to further progress in this area.

The leaders agreed to promote the expansion of trade relations between Mercosur and Canada, by negotiating enhanced market access in the areas of goods, services and investment, in the context of the creation of a future Free Trade Area of the Americas.

The President and the Prime Minister highlighted the plurality of cultures that characterize their countries and committed to working together to secure an effective UNESCO Convention on Cultural Diversity.

The President and the Prime Minister reaffirmed the importance of the bilateral dialogue and their wish to pursue future opportunities to exchange views on regional, hemispheric and global issues. In this vein, they agreed to establish a high-level mechanism for political consultations, with periodic meetings between officials in their respective foreign ministries.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was pleased to accept Prime Minister Paul Martin’s invitation to visit Canada in 2005.

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