Luncheon speech to Brazil's President Fernando Cardoso

Mr. President, Ministers, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a special pleasure to be back in Brasilia more than 8 years after I visited your country for the first time when I was minister of foreign affairs. Then, as now, I was struck by the sheer size of your country, and by its variety and beauty. And the impression I retained after that visit, of a country full of energy and belief in the future, has been fully confirmed, not least by your vision for Brazil in the 21st century.

Mr. President,

Permit me to congratulate you on your re-election. As every politician knows, to be elected after you have only told people what you will do if elected, is one thing. To be re-elected after you have shown what you can do, is a different matter indeed.

Last year the Norwegian Government launched a Strategic Plan for Latin America. The aim of the plan is to increase our contacts with Latin America in all spheres. My visit should also be seen in this context – as an expression of our country’s wish to build a strong and lasting friendship and close contact with Brazil.

In recent years, Brazil, and indeed most of Latin America, has experienced positive economic development in parallel with a strengthening of democracy and human rights. This is not a coincidence. Democracy does not guarantee economic progress. If that were the case, our central banks and finance ministers would have been quite redundant. But in the long run, true sustainable economic progress will not be found in an environment that is not democratic and free.

The promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms must be at the heart of all politics. We must all strive to ensure that political and civil rights, as well as social and economic rights, are implemented both at home and abroad. Security and dignity for all human beings, the elimination of poverty and the preservation of nature are uppermost in our minds as we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Mr. President,

During your time in office, important economic reforms have taken place in Brazil. Liberalisation and privatisation have been key elements in the remarkable progress that has been made.

The recent turbulence in world capital markets has affected Brazil as it has many other countries, often regardless of their fundamental economic performance. Worldwide, the lives of millions of people have been dramatically affected as a result of currency speculation and the flight of capital.

These recent events are a stark reminder of the fact that globalisation not only brings great benefits, but also creates problems. All of us must now look at what we can do to avoid future setbacks of this kind.

I have taken the initiative for a high-level symposium, to be held in Oslo in July next year, to address these issues, focusing in particular on the needs of the developing countries. I hope that you, Mr. President, will be able to attend this gathering, which will include leading representatives from important nations, international organisations, industry and the academic community.

The global crisis requires global solutions. I am pleased to note that the multilateral financial institutions, led by the International Monetary Fund, have agreed on a special financial package for Brazil. My Government, together with 20 other industrial nations, is supporting this measure. We are proud to be standing by Brazil and we know that you will overcome your present difficulties.

Brazil has traditionally been Norway’s most important trading partner in Latin America. Seventy per cent of our total exports to Latin America go to Brazil. Of these, our most important export commodity has been dried fish in the form of bacalao, which has accounted for over 60 per cent of the total. Recently, however, the opening up of the Brazilian economy has resulted in Norwegian enterprises showing a growing awareness of and interest in the Brazilian market, as you can see from the size of our business delegation.

The liberalisation of the petroleum sector has led to increased Norwegian interest in the energy sector. This was clearly demonstrated by the broad range of participants attending the seminar held jointly with Petrobras in Rio de Janeiro yesterday. As for Brazilian products on the Norwegian market, I need only mention that Norway has the highest per capita consumption in the world of Brazilian coffee.

The shipping sector deserves special mention. Several Norwegian shipping companies are represented in Brazil and have been operating here for a long time. A significant proportion of Brazil's exports to third markets is transported by Norwegian ships. In fact, Brazil is one of the most important single markets for Norwegian shipping. Increased Brazilian exports are not only good for Brazil, but for Norwegian shipping too.

Mr. President,

Our two countries have been working closely together on a whole range of issues. We are in close contact concerning Antarctic matters. We appreciated the Brazilian contributions to the conferences held in Norway on child labour, landmines and small weapons. We look forward to continuing our cooperation in meeting the many challenges that lie ahead as we approach the next millennium.

We have noted the leadership shown by Brazil in the integration process of the Mercosul countries and the important role played by Brazil in the negotiations that recently led to a peace agreement in the border dispute between Ecuador and Peru. I compliment you, Mr. President, on the personal interest and involvement you brought to these negotiations and on the decisive results achieved.

International meetings do not only take place around conference tables or in company boardrooms. Today, the field of sport is also an important arena. The magic of Brazilian football is highly appreciated in Norway and there have been some memorable encounters between the Brazilian and Norwegian national teams. We hope to enjoy many more unforgettable matches in the future.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like you to join me in a toast to Brazil and to you, Mr. President, to the members of the Brazilian delegation and to our continued friendship and cooperation.