Brazilian president: Don't fear high price of peace

During joint press conference with President Peres in Brasilia, Lula da Silva says solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict lies in dialogue, promises his country's help in achieving peace

BRASILIA - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Wednesday that solutions for the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians are known – dialogue and negotiations. He made the statement during a joint press conference with President Shimon Peres, who is currently visiting Brazil.

 

Da Silva stated that peace has a high price and urged the parties not to fear its cost, adding that Brazil would help both sides to achieve peace.

 

Israel and Brazil signed an extradition agreement as well as a deal according to which Israel will supply the South American country with 14 unmanned planes that will be used to fight crime ahead of the Olympic games to be held there.

 

During his speech before the Brazilian Senate on Tuesday, Peres urged Syrian President Bashar Assad to embark on immediate and direct talks with Israel “without mediators, with no pre-conditions, and without delay." He further stressed that Israel acknowledges the Palestinian people's right to an independent state.

 

Peres opened his address by praising Brazil’s beauty and the government’s socialist policy, which he said focuses on the need to fight poverty, ignorance, and disease.

 

The president is heading a large delegation that comprises Israel’s communication and tourism ministers, some 40 CEOs of leading Israeli companies, and senior officials in Israel’s military-industrial complex. The trip also marks the first visit by an Israeli president to Brazil in 40 years.