Forming a military alliance between France and Brazil and reducing illegal activity over the Brazil-French Guiana border was the focus of talks between their two leaders.
Presidents Lula da Silva of Brazil and Nicolas Sarkozy of France also inaugurated the construction of a bridge linking Brazil with French Guiana.
The bridge between Brazil's Oiapoque town and Saint-Georges will be the first land border crossing for French Guiana, an overseas department of France separated from Brazil by the Oiapoque River. Upon its planned completion in 2010, it will also be the only bridge linking European territory to the Americas.
Lula to discuss a strategic military alliance with France. Brazil wants France to sell it jet fighters and helicopters and, possibly, a $600 million Scorpene-class submarine.
Brazilian defense minister Nelson Jobim was in Paris last month for negotiations with Sarkozy and French defense industry executives.
The two leaders also discussed how to prevent illegal gold mining and trafficking in the border region. Brazilian illegal miners, often heavily armed, smuggle gold back over the border to Brazil and their mining operations occasion environmental damage in French Guiana.
Biofuels, civilian nuclear cooperation as well as global trade talks were also on the agenda, Lula spokesman Marcelo Baumbach said.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment