BrazilWorks and Government

BrazilWorks
Information and Analysis about United States-Brazil Relations

Government

Presidents Lula and Obama:
The First Meeting

Presidents Lula and Obama
March 14, 2009 Meeting
Calling himself "a great admirer of the progressive, forward looking
leadership that President Lula has shown," President Obama opened
up a joint press availability this afternoon after a meeting between
the two heads of state. President Lula described the topics covered
in the meeting, from stemming the global financial crisis, to
addressing the unemployment around the world that results from it,
to development in Africa and Latin America.

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA AND PRESIDENT LULA DA SILVA OF
BRAZIL IN PRESS AVAILABILITY

Click on Brazil's flag for the
Brazilian government's website in
English

Brazilian Government Press Contacts
by Issue-Areas
Access the list and contact information here

The Brazilian Government's
Foreign Policy Orientation

A multipolar world

Brazil’s foreign policy seeks to contribute towards a
peaceful and fairer world, where the rules of
international law prevail, social and economic
disparities are reduced among nations and within
each country. It also strives for a multipolar world,
free from individual domination, where global rules
and actions are applied to overcome challenges
through dialog and negotiation.

Brazil’s postulation to become a permanent member
of the U.N. Security Council fits into this vision,
which presupposes a Council adapted to current
reality, more legitimate and representative of the
aspirations of the international community.

The construction of a South American alliance is of
great interest to Brazil. The strategic alliance with
Argentina, the determination to strengthen Mercosur
and to speed up commercial and infrastructure
agreements form the bases for this integration.
Mercosur must be consolidated as a tariff union and
become a region that is capable of enunciating
policies in the fields of agriculture, industry, society
and science and technology.

In its dealings within the Free Trade Area of the
Americas (FTAA), Brazil’s position has been
constructive, in favor of a pragmatic conclusion which
preserves, above all, the sovereign instruments of
each country regarding policies for development and
the economy. The same posture is adopted by Brazil
in its negotiations with the EEC and within the
World Trade Organization (WTO).

A diplomatic stance for mankind

In addition to its traditional ties with the USA and
European countries, Brazil has sought to approach
the larger developing nations. With India and South
Africa, we created the Trilateral Forum for Dialog
(IBAS), geared towards cooperation projects and
global initiatives. Within the scope of the UN, a
Fiduciary Fund for IBAS was created, for the financing
of social projects in developing countries.

A series of important commercial agreements were
signed with China on occasion of President Lula’s
historical visit in 2004. With African countries, we
have established new bonds of cooperation, for
among other reasons the fact of our being a country
with a large population of African descendents.
Increasing approach has also been made towards the
Arab countries, and in 2005, by Brazilian initiative, the
first ever Forum will be held bringing together South
America and the Arab Countries. Read more.

Brazilian Embassy Newsletter
Read more.

From the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia...

Brazil and U.S. promote Intellectual

Property Seminars in Brazil

The United States Patent and Trademark Office
(USPTO), in joint cooperation with Brazil's National
Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), will be holding a
series of practical seminars on the acquisition of
intellectual property rights in the US and Brazil.

Attorneys from the USPTO's Office of Intellectual
Property Policy and Enforcement and officials from
INPI will discuss the current US and Brazilian systems
for securing patent, trademark, and copyright
protection, as well as licensing of intellectual property
rights.

The program provides an opportunity for
entrepreneurs, business owners, students and
academics to learn about the legal procedures for
protecting new innovation and creative works in the
US and Brazil.
Read more

"Prospects for Brazil-US Relations in the
New American Administration"

Brazil's Defense Minister
Defense in the National Agenda
Nelson Jobim

Thomas A. Shannon,
Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere

Marcel Biato,
Deputy International Affairs Adviser to President Lula

Antonio de Aguiar Patriota,
Brazil’s Ambassador to the US

Clifford Sobel,
US Ambassador to Brazil

among many others

Event held at the Woodrow Wilson International Center
for Scholars-Brazil Institute on
December 5, 2008
Click here to watch the video of this exceptional event

An Eye on Congress

ouse

RES.125

Title: Calling on Brazil in accordance with its obligations under the 1980

Hague Convention on

the Civil Aspects of

International Child Abduction

to obtain, as a matter of extreme urgency, the

return of Sean Goldman to

his father

David Goldman in the United States; urging the

governments of

all countries that are partners with the United States

to the Hague

Convention

to fulfill their obligations to return abducted children to the

United States; and

recommending

that all other nations, including Japan,

that have unresolved international child abduction cases

join the

Hague

Convention and establish procedures to promptly and equitably address

the

tragedy of international child

abductions.

Sponsor: Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] (introduced 2/4/2009)

Cosponsors (57)

Latest Major Action: 3/11/2009 Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On

motion to suspend the

rules and agree to the

resolution, as amended

Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required):

418 - 0 (Roll no. 120).