WORKING VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF
GUYANA, BHARRAT JAGDEO TO BRAZIL

JOINT PRESS COMMUNIQUE
(Brasília, July 30, 2003)

1). President Bharrat Jagdeo, accompanied by a Ministerial delegation comprising, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Education, Public Works and Communication, and Tourism, Industry and Commerce, paid a working visit to Brasília. In a private meeting with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the leaders of the two countries had the opportunity to examine issues on the bilateral, regional and international agenda. Simultaneously, the Ministers of State of Brazil met with their counterparts from Guyana to address issues on their respective agendas.

2). The visit of President Jagdeo is part of a series of encounters of the President of Brazil with his South American partners, emphasising the full participation of Guyana, without prejudice to its Caribbean linkage, in the project of South America as a space of development, social justice and peace.

3). The two Presidents reaffirmed and welcomed their firm commitment to the protection and promotion of democracy in the region. They applauded the role of the Organisation of American States in this regard and called for the deepening of relations between democratic institutions of both countries.

4). The Presidents underscored the importance of a peaceful, harmonious and cooperative environment among the countries of South America and reaffirmed their adhesion to the principle of the peaceful resolution of disputes that exist between the countries of the continent.

5). The Presidents reaffirmed that physical integration of the countries of South America form the basis of that South America as a system of countries and noted the participation of Guyana in all the stages of the process in the Initiative for the Integration of the Regional Infrastructure of South America (IIRSA), from the inception.

6). In agreeing with the need to accelerate the implementation of projects which contribute to the linkage of the two countries in the areas of transport, energy and communications, the Presidents highlighted the timeliness of the seminar sponsored by the National Bank of Social and Economic Development (BNDES) and the Andean Corporation Fund (CAF), to be held in Rio de Janerio, August 6-8, 2003, aimed at discussing proposals for the financing of infrastructure projects in the continent of South America.

7). In the ambit of IIRSA, the two Presidents declared their satisfaction with the possibility of initiating in the near future, the feasibility studies that are being analysed by the Inter American Development Bank, on the Guyana-Roraima integration project, which involves the construction of a road linking the two capitals, a port and hydroelectric facility in Guyana and an industrial zone in Boa Vista. The project was conceived by Go-Invest and Investe Brasil.

8).They underscored in a special way the importance of the road link between Brazil, Guyana and Suriname and the French Department of Guiana to the increase of commercial and tourism flows in the north of South America.

9). At the bilateral level they noted the importance of the Agreement on International Road Transport of Passengers and Cargo signed in February 2003, and expressed the hope that it will be ratified in the near future.

10). The Brazilian President reiterated his commitment to the conclusion in the near future of the bridge across the Takutu river which would allow for the linkage by road from Bonfim in the state of Roraima to Lethem, in Guyana. The conclusion of the project will constitute a step towards the effective communication of the Northern Region of Brazil with Guyana and also with the Caribbean.

11). They agreed also to look for ways of improving air links and of establishing a regular shipping service between the two countries.

12). The Presidents noted with satisfaction the level of understanding already reached regarding the elaboration of the Additional Protocol which will permit the full implementation of the Partial Scope Agreement signed on June 27, 2001, and the effective use of the set of preferential tariffs negotiated between the two countries.

13). The Presidents underlined the importance of the coordination of positions of countries of South America in hemispheric and international trade negotiations. For such negotiations to obtain balanced and equitable results, the difference in levels of economic development of the countries of the hemisphere, their national development strategies and their enormous social needs, should be taken into account. In this regard the Presidents emphasised the need for the identification of appropriate funding mechanisms which would facilitate effective hemispheric trade integration.

14). In the context of the World Trade Organisation, the Presidents reiterated the importance of a stable rules based multilateral trading system and reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to the current multilateral negotiations and the full and balanced achievement of the Doha Development Agenda.

15). The two leaders recognised the urgent need to foster linkages between their respective business sectors through the promotion of seminars and participation in trade fairs. They emphasised the importance of the early completion of the bilateral programme under the agreement concluded between the Institute of Small Enterprise Development (IPED) and the Support Service to Small and Micro Businesses of the state of Roraima (SEBRAE-RR). The President of Guyana thanked the President of Brazil for the offer of technical cooperation in the area of trade promotion between the Ministry of External Relations of Brazil and the Ministry of Foreign Trade of Guyana, including training for the setting up and operation of a mechanism similar to BrazilTrade Net and other instruments related to trade intelligence.

16). The Presidents reaffirmed the support of both countries to the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization and reiterated the willingness of their Governments to give impetus to the harmonisation of policies in the ambit of that organisation in relation to issues on the environment, including those which refer to the protection of genetic resources and biodiversity, for the benefit of the peoples of the Amazon.

17). They applauded the excellent collaboration in military affairs and underlined the need to deepen that cooperation through the gradual integration of Guyana in SIVAM.

18). The two Presidents recognised the importance of strengthening cooperation to promote security on the frontier and underscored the importance of convening meetings under the bilateral mechanisms established in the area of drugs, and police cooperation and, between the customs authorities.

19). The Presidents applauded the signing of the Partial Visa Abolition Agreement, noting the relevance of this instrument to the movement of people between the two countries, with the simplification of migratory procedures. Further, in the area of Consular and Juridical cooperation, they noted the level of understanding reached in the negotiation of an extradition treaty.

20). In the area of technical cooperation they commended the positive results obtained with the recently executed projects on new cultivation and the eradication of agricultural pests which are relevant to food security in Guyana. The Presidents witnessed the signing of Complementary Agreement to the Basic Agreement of Technical Cooperation for the Implementation of the project “Data Base Management of Dairy Cattle Production and Disease Surveillance in Guyana”. They stressed the importance of a visit to Guyana by a team from the Brazilian Cooperation Agency before the end of the current year to examine new areas of cooperation.

21). With reference to the transfer of technology in the area of ethanol production in the ambit of the search for alternative forms of energy within the region, Brazil will examine the possibility of offering technical assistance to a project of establishing a system of ethanol production in Guyana.

22). The Presidents discussed the issue of the battle against poverty and the need for progress of policies on social inclusion. In this regard they highlighted the importance of collaboration in the areas of health and education and in promoting exchanges with a view to developing work programmes in these priority social areas. In this regard the Government of Brazil, proposed the creation of a Bi-national Health Commission.

23). In the area of education they agreed on the modalities for the revitalization of student exchange programmes between the two countries. In this connection, President Bharrat Jagdeo offered Guyana as a location for the teaching of English to Brazilian students.

24). The two Leaders highlighted the importance of Joint Mechanisms to review bilateral cooperation and agreed that there be early meetings of the Joint Commission, the Guyana-Brazil Group on Consular Cooperation, and on Political Consultations.

25). The Presidents applauded the commemoration of the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in December, 2003, and agreed that their respective Foreign Ministries will organise the celebration of this event.

26). The two Presidents recognised the invaluable role of culture as an effective instrument of integration of the peoples of the South American region and in this regard agreed to an early visit to Brazil by the Minister of Culture of Guyana within the ambit of the Bilateral Cultural Agreement.

27). The Presidents agreed on the need to reform and revitalise the United Nations system, especially the Security Council to make it more responsive to the changed international situation. In this context, President Jagdeo conveyed Guyana’s support for Brazil’s permanent membership of the Security Council. President Lula expressed his deep appreciation for this valuable support.

28). In discussing the issue of development on the international scene, the President of Brazil received with much interest the proposal by the President of Guyana for the establishment of a New Global Human Order premised on partnership, interdependence and people centred development.
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