Brazil’s Lula defends Ahmadinejad’s visit

Brazil doesn’t veto talks with anyone, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Wednesday, defending the upcoming visit of his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is expected in Brazil on November 23. At a joint press conference with Israeli President Shimon Peres in Brasilia, Lula said: “You do not build peace if you do not talk to all political and religious forces, those that want peace and those that oppose peace.”

“We need to talk more and to find more partners who want to help in peace-building in the Middle East. And we do not refuse to talk to anyone, as long as in that chat we can get a word, or at least a comma, that might help build peace,” he said.

Otherwise, Lula emphasized, talks are just like a friends’ club and “peace will not ever be possible.”

“You know that there will be no peace without political concessions,” he said, addressing Peres directly.

However, he also stressed that Brazil condemns “any form of terrorism, under any pretexts.”

During a two-hour meeting with Peres, Lula explained Brazil’s willingness to contribute to negotiations in the Middle East, and stressed that peace in that region “is everybody’s hope.”

Lula will host Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on November 20.

Peres said he had invited Lula to visit Israel. “I understand that he will also visit the Palestinian side. I know he is friendly with the Palestinians, and we would also like to be. With serious and firm support (from Brazil) I know there can be a contribution,” Peres said.