From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: Brazil: New prez pledges to fight poverty
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 08:30:47 GMT

/** headlines: 618.0 **/
** Topic: IPS:BRASIL-New president pledges **
** Written  9:10 am  Jan  5, 1993 by newsdesk in cdp:headlines **
/* Written  4:26 pm  Jan  2, 1993 by jbinder in igc:reg.samerica */
/* ---------- "IPS:BRASIL-New president pledges" ---------- */
From: James Binder <jbinder>
Subject: IPS:BRASIL-New president pledges

Copyright Inter Press Service 1993, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: BRAZIL: NEW PRESIDENT PLEDGES TO FIGHT POVERTY

rio de janeiro, dec 30 (ips) -- brazil's new president, itamar
franco, has announced that his government will fight poverty and
social inequality, promote economic growth and move towards
closer integration with neighbouring countries.

in his first speech to the nation after tuesday's swearing-in
ceremony, franco criticised the ''false modernity'' of the
policies espoused by his predecessor, fernando collor de mello.

''brazilians' became 10 percent poorer in 30 months'', said
franco, citing the fall in the country's gross national product
(gnp) since 1990, which he said was the result of the previous
administration's economic policies.

he added that gnp in 1992 was 3.7 percent lower than in 1989.

in his address, franco pledged to expand social benefits to
cushion the effects of the economic recession, extending existing
measures to provide cheaper food and medicines for the poorest
sectors of society. he noted that electricity costs for small
consumers had already been reduced.

the new president stressed that the fight against inflation
would not be based on high interest rates.

he said interest paid by the government to re-finance the
internal debt had already decreased by ''nearly 30 percent
annually'', to about 20 percent, but added that a further drop is
required to stimulate economic growth and public investment in
social programmes and infrastructure.

franco pointed out that fiscal adjustment, essential to
implement these measures, would depend largely on congressional
support. congress is expected to interrupt its summer recess on
jan 11 to vote on a series of urgent political and economic
bills.

during his 25-minute address at a cabinet meeting in brasilia,
franco stressed that his government would honour foreign debt
agreements and would continue the process of opening its markets
to foreign trade, while demanding reciprocity.

he recalled that in past years foreign trade had boosted
brazil's economic growth rates, though he admitted imbalances and
distorsions in the distribution of incomes.

''brazil will seek economic, political, social and cultural
integration with its neighbours to promote a community of latin
american nations,'' franco said, referring to advances in
mercosur and the amazon cooperation treaty.

''the privatisation programme will continue, but without
''undue haste or losses for the nation'', franco stressed.

he added that brazil's central bank would be restructured so
as to make it more independent and boost the confidence of the
markets. (more/ips)
----


brazil: new (2)

on the social front, franco said his administration would work
to provide education for some 30 million illiterates in the
country and better social security benefits for the elderly. it
would also pursue agrarian reform and decentralise power, which
is currently concentrated in the hands of federal government.

briefly mentioning the issue of technology, franco cited
brazil's great biodiversity and expressed ''hope in the
biological sector'', where important advances had been achieved.

the president also announced that he would convene a meeting
of the country's armed forces chiefs to define a national
military policy, for the first time in brazilian history.

finally, he declared that ''the era of heads of state with
imperial powers'' had come to an end and promised that his
administration would work closely with parliament and the
judiciary to run an ''honest government'' counting on the ''the
people's support in guarding against corruption.''
(ends/ips/trd-sp/mo/cs/cg/92)
----


** End of text from cdp:headlines **

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