Speech by the Foreign Minister of Brazil, Ambassador Celso Amorim, at the Summit of the Arab League — Algiers, 22 March 2005.

Mr President, Majesties, Excellencies,

On behalf of President Lula and on my own behalf, I thank President Abdelaziz Bouteflika for the invitation to address Heads of State and Government of the Arab League. It is indeed a great honour to be here today. This is the first time a Brazilian minister has been invited to participate in an Arab Summit.

Over the centuries, the contribution of the Arab world to culture, art, philosophy and science has been immense. It played a vital role in the development of our global civilization. In the case of Brazil and South America, this enriching influence dates back to the Arab presence in the Iberian Peninsula. The Arab presence also flourished in South America with the influx of immigrants. In Brazil there are more than 10 million people of Arab descent - the largest such community outside the Arab world.

These profound links have not been translated into an equally close relationship between Arab and South American countries. That is why President Lula decided to launch an unprecedented initiative involving our two regions. President Lula asked me to stress the great importance he attaches to the participation of all Arab leaders in the Brasilia Summit next May, to be co-chaired by President Bouteflika.

It is important to note that this Summit will take place in South America in a moment in which integration is greatly accelerated. Last December, South American Presidents met in Cuzco, Peru, where they officially launched the South America Community of Nations. They will meet again next August in Brazil to decide on the institutional aspects of the Community. It is extremely significant that the Summit with the Arab League will be the first such event involving the newly founded Community and any other region.

The Brasilia Summit aims at intensifying dialogue at the highest political level. At the same time, it will help to expand cultural, trade and other links through a positive bi-regional agenda uniting the peoples of these two vast areas of the world. The key words to define these objectives are thus dialogue and cooperation. By fostering ties between our regions through concrete projects, we will be contributing, in a pragmatic way, to strengthen South-South relations.

In the multilateral arena we share values and objectives. We can do more in areas of mutual interest such as the reform of international financial institutions, the fight against hunger and poverty, the reform of the United Nations and the elimination of distortions in the multilateral trading system. Our voices will be better heard if we speak together. In this connection, it is fundamental that developing countries be included as permanent members in an expanded Security Council. If selected, Brazil is prepared to face its enhanced responsibilities. We also favour the permanent presence of the Arab world in the Council without prejudice of two seats for Africa.

Mr President, Majesties, Excellencies,

Ever since the idea of the Summit between South American and Arab countries has been launched, private sectors from our countries have started to look for mutual opportunities to do business. Although this potential has been hardly scratched, in the twelve months following the visit of President Lula to five Arab countries, total trade between Brazil and the Arab world has expanded from 5.4 billion to 8.1 billion US dollars. To tap the full potential of these relations, a business forum with participants from our two regions will take place during the Summit.

But there is much more than purely trade and economic relations. In science and technology, we will be able to devise common solutions for our problems. We can expand our cooperation in health and education. We should engage our societies in better knowing each other through the promotion of cultural activities.

I look forward to meeting my Foreign Minister colleagues this week in Marrakesh. We shall give the final touches to the draft declaration which will be submitted to the leaders during the Summit. This shall reflect our common views on issues of our bilateral cooperation and of the international agenda. I am convinced that by inaugurating this High Level Dialogue between two important regions of the developing world, which will bring together 34 nations sincerely devoted to the promotion of understanding among peoples, the Brasilia Summit will serve the cause of Peace.

This is an important moment for many in the Middle East. We commend the Arab plan of 2002. Recent developments in the peace process have ignited hope in the hearts of all those who sincerely desire a lasting and peaceful solution for Middle East problems. Brazil wholeheartedly supports the right of the Palestinian people to have their own State in a way that is economically viable and respects human dignity, thus ensuring peaceful coexistence of all countries in the region. Based on our own internal experience of tolerance and mutual acceptance, we will be prepared to offer our contribution to this process. It is the belief in the force of dialogue and in the capacity of human beings to reach out to each other that inspired several of President Lula's initiatives, including the Arab and South American Summit. This same belief will guide any participation we may be called to have in the Peace Process.

Let me reiterate my deepest honour of attending this important event.

Thank you very much.