Remarks With Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim
Secretary Condoleezza Rice
Itamaraty
Brasilia, Brazil
April 26, 2005
(5:45 pm local time)
MODERATOR: (in Portuguese) At this time I'd like to give the floor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil,
Ambassador Celso Amorim, and to the Secretary of the State of the United States, National Security Advisor Condoleezza
Rice, for their introductory remarks to the press, following which Chancellor Amorim and Secretary of State Rice will
answer three questions to be made by the journalists attending this session.
FOREIGN MINISTER AMORIM: (in Portuguese) Good afternoon. Actually, it's almost good evening. First of all, I'd like to,
in public, extend my words of welcome to the U.S. Secretary of State, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, in her
first visit in her capacity as Secretary of State. We know she has come to Brazil before in different capacities and may
I say that this visit obviously involves a number of other appointments. Actually, in the next few minutes we should be
leaving this auditorium to the Presidential Palace, where she will be meeting with the President of the Republic.
But I'd like to state for the record that we have sustained a conversation in the past few minutes and have highlighted
the following points, namely the importance of our two countries, countries that have tremendous affinity or convergence
when it comes to democracy, that is in the mutual determination to continue working together with a view to -- working
together in such as a way as to respect our mutual sovereignty and work to the effect of strengthening democracy in our
continent.
We made reference, remembered the situations in which the U.S. and Brazil have cooperated and in which we do intend to
continue cooperation from now onwards. We also talked about trade issues and have underscored the importance of -- and
we have likewise underscored the importance of cooperation between our two countries at the WTO level. All of us know
that, indeed, WTO is of utmost importance, not only for Brazil but also for the U.S.
Once again, we have highlighted that our interests are largely shared, perhaps not entirely shared but very largely our
interests can be described as being shared, common interests when it comes to the WTO related issues, especially as
regards the strengthening of the multilateral trade system and the success of the Doha round.
Also on the trade front, reference in our conversation was made to the importance of resuming strongly the FTAA
negotiating process as part of the overall framework agreed upon in Miami. We also discussed the reasons why the FTAA
negotiations have not yet made so much progress over the past few months. At any rate, the fact is that we do agree that
we should resume strongly the FTAA negotiations while always respecting, of course, the different or the differing
timelines or timetables that may have to apply given the different negotiating fora in which we are also involved.
Accordingly, I also used the opportunity to explain -- not that Secretary Rice required any explanation, but I used the
opportunity to expand on my explanation describing the importance of the South American integration process and the
importance of such integration processes, not only for South American countries but also with a view to ensuring for a
fully democratic consolidation of democracy in these countries of the region.
We also talked about other topics in the world agenda today and we also talked about the proposed reform of the United
Nations. I would say that at a conceptual level, without necessarily having delved into specific details, I think it is
fair to say that at the conceptual level we do share very similar ideas indeed.
So in a nutshell, in summary, these are essentially the topics we have covered in our conversation. We also talked
about other initiatives undertaken by the Brazilian diplomacy as well as by the Brazilian diplomatic corps and the U.S.
diplomacy. In the case of the Brazilian diplomacy we talked about the upcoming Arab country South American summit
meeting and the objectives of the upcoming meeting. The underlying purpose of this upcoming summit is, of course,
ultimately geared towards cooperation but, of course, if we can prove instrumental in building peace in the region that
will be, of course, an important byproduct, if you will.
Finally, we have also agreed on the content of an important document which will be made available to you following the
interview. The document is about our support to democracy at its different dimensions, not only as regards freedoms but
also as regards social justice, social equity. And we have made two specific references to Haiti and Ecuador.
SECRETARY RICE: Thank you very much, Minister. Thank you very much for the warm reception that I have received here in
Brazil. I look forward to the meeting with President Lula in a few minutes to continue our discussions about the very
important common agenda that Brazil and the United States share, an agenda that looks to the further march of democracy
in this hemisphere and, in fact, in the world; that looks to the expansion of opportunities for free trade and economic
development, efforts that should hopefully, as the Monterrey consensus recently said, help democratic states to provide
to even their most marginal citizens the opportunity for greater development and greater prosperity. And in that regard,
I said to the Minister that the example of Brazil, where President Lula and his administration have led policies that
everyone sees as economically sound, yet policies that have been concerned about those at the margins of life, the
people who are the poorest, the people who need educational opportunity, the people who need health care, that that has
been a very important contribution that Brazil has made in recent years under President Lula's leadership.
We talked on the basis, of course, of our common values, our democratic values, values that are shared not just in
terms of our political systems but in terms of our multi-ethnicity as democracies. Brazil shares with the United States,
of course, varied cultural backgrounds, including from Latin backgrounds, indigenous backgrounds, African and European,
something that very few countries share. And the wonderful colorful diversity of Brazil is always on display and we
share that and it's something that in a day when in many societies difference is a license to kill, it is wonderful to
see a democracy in which people of so many backgrounds are, in fact, working toward a common future.
We talked about Brazil's role here in the region but also Brazil's growing global role and I assured the Minister, as I
will assure President Lula, that the United States very much welcomes the strengthening role of Brazil. It has been
demonstrated in many ways, including in the very excellent work that Brazil has been doing in leading the UN mission in
Haiti, a very important effort to give to the Haitian people an opportunity for stability and then an opportunity to
build a democracy and a better future.
We talked also about a number of challenges in the region, states that are challenged, challenged politically,
challenged economically, and about our common desire to help. And I might just say, Minister, that we discussed Ecuador
and discussed the fact that there is an OAS mission that is trying to help the people of Ecuador to find a way forward
to a constitutional and democratic process. And I might note also that there is a South American delegation that has --
the so-called troika -- that is also involved in trying to help the Ecuadorian people. And so we promised to stay in
very close contact about that most recent situation but with an eye toward the stability and prosperity of the entire
region.
Finally, we had an opportunity to discuss other areas of interest, like the Middle East, and I assured the Minister
that the role that the United States will play in trying to bring about peace between Israel and the Palestinians, but
also in trying to promote reform in the broader Middle East is one that we take both seriously and actively. And I
informed the Minister that the Quartet will be meeting very soon to try to push forward that very important agenda. I
know it is an area that the Minister himself has had a personal interest in and so we had a chance to talk about that.
But again, thank you very much for the opportunity to be here. Brazil is a great country, a great set of cultures and a
wonderful friend who I think, with the United States and with others, can help to build a more democratic, prosperous
and peaceful hemisphere and a more democratic, prosperous and peaceful world. Thank you.
MODERATOR: (in Portuguese) Minister Celso Amorim and Secretary Condoleezza Rice will now answer four questions: two by
press representatives of Brazil and two by journalists from the United States. The names of journalists have been
determined by the press representatives themselves. I would like each journalist to ask no more than just one question.
At this time I'd like to give the floor to journalist George Gedda with the Associated Press Agency for the first
question.
QUESTION: Do you share the U.S. concern about the erosion of democracy in Venezuela, the apparent centralization of
power in apparent violations of some of the Democratic Charter of the OAS?
FOREIGN MINISTER AMORIM: (in Portuguese) Well, I'm going to go ahead and answer that question in Portuguese so that the
Brazilian press too can hear my answer, but I will wait until such time as the U.S. journalist has his translation
equipment on. I just note you have followed the translations and the question was translated into Portuguese. The
question is about Venezuela and the political process.
We have had the opportunity to talk about Venezuela and although we have also said that we do not intend to turn
Venezuela into the only or main subject matter of our meetings and our agendas, we have also, of course, a number of
other topics. The Secretary also received the descriptions of our view of the process, always, of course, respecting the
sovereignty of Venezuela, and I indicated how Brazil can possibly contribute toward a democratic resolution of the
situation including, for example, possible international intervention in the case of a repeal-oriented referendum.
Evidently enough, in every society, like any other society, problems exist and these problems should be discussed by
the Venezuelan people. And anything we can do towards a positive development, always respecting the sovereignty of this
neighboring country, we are willing to do so and we have stressed that we will continue talking about Venezuela. We are
friends with Venezuela and with the Venezuelan people, and both countries are therefore interested in assuring that the
developments in Venezuela will move towards harmonious, democratic solutions.
MODERATOR: (in Portuguese) At this time I'd like to give the floor to journalist Benedict Christine Marin (ph) with the
Estado de Sao Paolo newspaper for a question. Microphone, please.
QUESTION: (in Portuguese) I'm sorry. Good afternoon, Secretary of State. Good afternoon, Minister Amorim. I would like
to know how the United States and Brazil can possibly work together as regards serious threats against democracy in
South America, as has been the case in Bolivia, for example, and as we have seen in the case of Ecuador, for instance,
and more particularly as regards the domestic measures adopted by President Chavez in Venezuela?
On the same matter, Secretary Rice, I would like to know from you whether the U.S. is somehow disturbed about the
success of political support or tokens of support given by President Lula to President Chavez over the past few months.
This question has been formulated as a result of a joint consensus between Brazilian journalists and the foreign press
residing in Brazil.
SECRETARY RICE: We have in this hemisphere a Democracy Charter and that Democracy Charter is actually very clear about
the obligations of democratically elected governments to govern democratically. And what we do through the OAS, what we
do through our bilateral relations with countries like Brazil and with others, is to try and make sure that this
hemisphere and all states within it are living up to that Democratic Charter.
It is a remarkable development when you think about the last 20 or so years as to how far this hemisphere has come
because the fact that you can go to the OAS or to the Summit of the Americas and there is only one empty chair, and that
is Cuba, is a remarkable development and it says something about the ability and the willingness of the people of Latin
America to pursue democratic -- their democratic rights. It says something about the emergence of enlightened
governments that have lived up to that Charter.
It does come with its challenges and in a number of the countries that you mentioned there are obviously political,
economic and social challenges that have made those democratic states very fragile. And it is our responsibility as
members of the hemisphere who are associated with the Democratic Charter to try and be helpful to those states as they
try and work their way through these difficulties. It is why the recent events in Guatemala -- I'm sorry, in Ecuador
have led us to a level of cooperation with the OAS, with members of South American states, to try and reach out to the
Ecuadorian people and, indeed, to the government there to see if we can help them to get on a path toward a stable
democracy. It is why there have been concerns about Bolivia but why there has been support for Bolivia as it goes
through this extremely difficult time.
And as the Minister said, we all want there to be a free and completely democratic Venezuela. That is what this
hemisphere should be about. And the issues with Venezuela are not issues between the United States and Venezuela or
Venezuela and Brazil, they are issues about the freedom and democracy and institutions that should -- that the
Venezuelan people should have that right.
But I just want to underscore something that the Minister said. All of this has to be understood in the context of
pursuing a positive agenda for this hemisphere. That means an agenda that is devoted to democratic governance along with
-- in accordance with the Democratic Charter. It means pursuing the economic opportunities that free trade, whether it
is at the global level through the WTO, the regional level with the FTAA, the work that we have each done within our own
regions, whether it is South America or North America, to try to extend free trade benefits. It means pursuing economic
policies that are pro-growth, that have sound macroeconomic fundamentals and it means pursuing, as the Monterrey
consensus noted, the policies that will allow people to really start to benefit from those economic policies and from
economic growth. And that means the promotion of good governance, of policies of non-corruption, of health care and
fighting for educational opportunities for people. It's the human development side.
And I'm quite sure that if we pursue that positive agenda in this hemisphere and pursue it together with partners like
Brazil, that we will create an environment in which there are stronger democracies, not so many that are fragile. There
are always going to be difficult circumstances and challenges, but our job has to be as members of this hemisphere to
pursue policies that give democracy a chance not just to hold elections but to then actually provide for its people and
to resist then the siren song of kind of easy solutions that sound good but, in fact, are not based in economic reality.
MODERATOR: (in Portuguese) At this time I would like to give the floor to journalist Rosalind Jordan with the NBC
Television Network.
QUESTION: This is a two-part question for Secretary Rice. Madam Secretary, as recently as yesterday you reiterated your
support for John Bolton to be the next American Ambassador to the United Nations, but there is still a continuing daily
stream of reporting -- some of it salacious in nature, some of it perhaps founded -- not just about allegations about
Mr. Bolton's management style but perhaps more troublingly to some analysts and to some observers, about his alleged
attempts to distort or exaggerate the results of U.S. intelligence for political or ideological goals.
Why doesn't this stream of daily allegations, for lack of a better word, give you or President Bush pause about his
nomination? And the follow-up would be: Why do you believe that his nomination to be the next U.S. Ambassador to the UN
would actually help President Bush's foreign policy objectives?
SECRETARY RICE: Well, on the second point, Rosalind, the President and, indeed, I believed at the time when John Bolton
was nominated that he was the best person to take on the UN role for the United States at a critical time, and we still
believe that that is the case.
I just spent a good portion of my meeting with the Foreign Minister talking about UN reform. This is one of the most
important topics facing the world at this point because we all want the United Nations to be as strong as possible, as
capable in the 21st century of dealing with threats like terrorism and weapons of mass destruction and dealing with the
concerns about poverty alleviation and social justice, and dealing with the multiple problems that we have in the
international community.
We've been talking about Security Council reform. We've talked about the need to reform or to think about a
peace-building commission. We've talked about the need to reform the Human Rights Commission. These are fundamental
reforms of one of the most important organizations ever created by humankind and the United States needs a strong voice
at the UN in that debate. That's why John Bolton was selected for this job and we continue to believe he's the right
person for this job.
Now, as to the stories and allegations -- some of them have been made publicly, some of them are whispers -- I think
that we have a process. The committee has examined these. We have made at the State Department people available who have
direct knowledge of any of these issues. We have worked overtime to try to answer the questions of the committee, as has
John. And we will continue to try to answer questions that people might have.
But the fact is that this is somebody with almost 20 years of public service. He has been a capable diplomat by almost
every account of his activities. Everybody knows that he was important in getting the Proliferation Security Initiative
through, that he was important in the repeal of the Zionism as Racism resolution in the UN, which was really one of the
darkest moments in the UN's history, that he was important in carrying out the execution of the Moscow Treaty which cut
radically U.S. and Russian nuclear forces. This is a very, very good diplomat.
We need at the United Nations a strong voice and everybody knows that the UN needs reform. It's no secret that the UN
needs reform. So, we would like to get through this process. We respect the advise and consent function of the Senate.
It is time, though, to put this to the Senate and to get a vote so that hopefully we can put the person that the
President and I both believe is the man to do this very important job at the UN so that we can get on with this.
MODERATOR: (in Portuguese) At this time I would like to give the floor to journalist Martha Cohela (ph) with the (in
audible) Television Network for the last question.
QUESTION: (in Portuguese) Good afternoon, Secretary Condoleezza Rice. Good afternoon, Minister Celso Amorim.
Secretary Rice, just a few minutes ago Minister Amorim said that the FTAA was one of the topics covered in your
conversation. I'd like to know how can this issue evolve and move forward concretely speaking, since President Lula da
Silva has announced that the FTAA is no longer in the president agenda.
And my second question is the following: How does the U.S. view the upcoming summit meeting between Arab countries and
South American countries next month? This question has already been addressed as a result of joint consensus between
Brazilian journalists and foreign correspondents. Thank you.
MINISTER AMORIM: (in Portuguese) I think I must say something before Secretary Rice has the floor to give us her
response because the second one has already been fully clarified, but the fact is that when President Lula da Silva said
that the FTAA is no longer on the agenda, actually he used the word "pauta" in Portuguese, and as you know, "pauta" in
Portuguese refers to the agenda of journalists, not the government agenda, because it is no longer an ideological
controversial issue in terms of knowing who is for it and who is against the FTAA. The issue now or the question now is
no longer knowing or finding out who is for or who is against, but rather the question lies in how to best negotiate an
FTAA agreement that will be good for all parties or both parties.
I think this clarification is important because I'm not sure whether Secretary Rice reads all press reports and it's
all too important that she, too, be made aware of what our interpretation is of his comments. I think it is a truthful
interpretation because I have talked in person to the President and that is his own personal interpretation.
Thank you.
SECRETARY RICE: The FTAA is an important agreement. We also are working very hard on the WTO. We've had very good
cooperation and I want to thank Minister Amorim, who has that portfolio and has worked very closely with then U.S. Trade
Representative Bob Zoellick, now Deputy Secretary of State, on the WTO. And I think we, as a result, made some progress.
So, the WTO is very important. The FTAA is very important. And we did talk about how we might reenergize our efforts to
make progress on the FTAA and I think we will share ideas about how to reenergize that within the framework that was
recently agreed to.
This is not a matter of competition of elements of free trade. There ought to be as much free trade as possible. We
have free trade agreements in the region. We have free trade agreements in other regions. We have, for instance, a free
trade agreement with Central America and the Dominican Republic that we very much would like to get through our Congress
because we think it's important to both the economic and political stability of that region.
Free trade is important because it is one of the most important engines for economic growth and all countries need
economic growth in order to be able to provide for their people. And so this is not a question of do we do this or do we
do that. We ought to try and do as much as possible in free trade, and the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas was an
important initiative recognizing the potential power of a freely trading Western Hemisphere and we intend to pursue it.
And I was pleased to hear the Foreign Minister bring this up with me when we sat down to talk.
As to the summit with the Arab states, we very much want to see more interaction between the Arab world and other parts
of the world. It is a region that's going through tremendous change at this point. It is a region that needs reform --
economic, political, social. That has been recognized by Arab intellectuals. It has been recognized by a number of
states in the region. There are, indeed, reform efforts going on in that region and I think it's well understood that a
region that has 22 countries with the GDP of Spain needs economic reform and they are taking on that challenge. We,
ourselves, have had recent free trade agreements with a number of states in the Middle East and we intend to continue to
pursue trade and cooperation. I'm very glad that there will be this connection.
The Minister and I talked about the importance of the message that is sent by that kind of interaction and it really
does say that there is an understanding that the Arab world is in transition and that reform is an important element of
that transition. And similarly on the Israeli-Palestinian issue, there is an international consensus through the Quartet
about the next steps ahead on the Road Map.
MODERATOR: (in Portuguese) Thank you.
2005/T6-5