November 20 2009
Brazil's Lula Says U.S. Shouldn’t Be Broker Middle East Talks
By Iuri Dantas
Bloomberg
Nov. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the U.S. holds responsibility for the crisis in the Middle East and shouldn't be coordinating peace talks.
Negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians ought to be managed by the United Nations, Lula said in an interview with two local radio stations in Salvador, Bahia state, according to an audio file on the presidency's Web site.
“As long as the United States is trying to negotiate peace there won’t be peace, because other participants need to be seated at the negotiating table and talk,” Lula said. “The one who should oversee the negotiations is the United Nations, and that’s why Brazil wants to reform the UN system.”
Brazil is seeking a broader role in the Middle East, after hosting Israeli president Shimon Peres last week and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas today. Lula is scheduled to meet Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Nov. 23 in talks built around trade relations with the wider objective of engaging the Persian country in political discussions.
Lula is “prepared” to play a role in the negotiating process, Abbas told reporters in Salvador today, during a joint press conference with Lula.
To contact the reporter on this story: Iuri Dantas in Brasilia at idantas[at]bloomberg[dot]net
Source: Bloomberg
Bloomberg
Nov. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the U.S. holds responsibility for the crisis in the Middle East and shouldn't be coordinating peace talks.
Negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians ought to be managed by the United Nations, Lula said in an interview with two local radio stations in Salvador, Bahia state, according to an audio file on the presidency's Web site.
“As long as the United States is trying to negotiate peace there won’t be peace, because other participants need to be seated at the negotiating table and talk,” Lula said. “The one who should oversee the negotiations is the United Nations, and that’s why Brazil wants to reform the UN system.”
Brazil is seeking a broader role in the Middle East, after hosting Israeli president Shimon Peres last week and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas today. Lula is scheduled to meet Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Nov. 23 in talks built around trade relations with the wider objective of engaging the Persian country in political discussions.
Lula is “prepared” to play a role in the negotiating process, Abbas told reporters in Salvador today, during a joint press conference with Lula.
To contact the reporter on this story: Iuri Dantas in Brasilia at idantas[at]bloomberg[dot]net
Source: Bloomberg
