Brazilian president seeks to keep today's Cuba visit low-key

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Fri, Sep. 26, 2003

Brazilian president seeks to keep today's Cuba visit low-key
BY NANCY SAN MARTIN
Miami Herald

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, South America's new pragmatic democratic leader, will have to dance a political tango when he steps on Cuban soil today for a visit with his longtime comrade in the Western Hemisphere's only remaining communist nation.

Armed with a $400 million line of credit and accompanied by an entourage of high-level Cabinet members and some 40 business executives, da Silva is expected to sign new deals with Cuba that will further advance Brazil's effort as a serious player in the economic trading field. (snip)

(snip) The 57-year-old da Silva, a former trade union activist, remains loyal to 77-year-old Castro, a personal friend who has backed his three failed presidential bids before he finally took office in January. Castro made one of his recent trips out of Cuba to attend da Silva's inauguration. (snip/...)

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/world/6868197.htm