2023-04-16 13:27:19
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Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva indicated this Sunday (16) that he had discussed joint mediation with China and the United Arab Emirates to try to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. The statement was made during a conversation with journalists in Abu Dhabi, ending the PT leader’s quick visit to the country.
“President Putin does not take any initiative to stop the war. [O presidente] Zelensky does not take any initiative to stop the war,” Lula said. “Europe and the United States continue to contribute to the continuation of the war. They must sit around a table and say: enough”, reiterated the Brazilian president.
The day before, in Beijing, when leaving for Abu Dhabi, after an official visit to China, the PT leader had already criticized the United States’ stance in the conflict and suggested that both Washington and European leaders should “start talking about peace ”.
In the Emirates, Lula declared again that the war is due to “decisions taken by both countries”, referring to Russia and Ukraine. Therefore, he stated that he asked Sheikh Mohammed ben Zayed Al-Nahyane and Chinese President Xi Jinping to create a group of nations to undertake a mediation mission.
“The G20 was formed to boost the world economy that was in crisis”, recalled Lula. “Now it is important to create another type of G20 to put an end to this war and establish peace. That is my intention and I think we will succeed [colocá-la em prática]”, he reiterated.
The PT leader guarantees that he has discussed his initiative with the American president, Joe Biden, the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and South American leaders.
“Fruitful” visit to the Emirates
Brazil and the United Arab Emirates concluded on Saturday (15) a series of agreements on the fight against climate change and green fuels. The Brazilian president classified his visit to Abu Dhabi as “very fruitful” after meeting Sheikh Mohammed ben Zayed Al-Nahyane.
In a joint statement, the two countries indicated that they had addressed issues such as trade, technology, defense, aviation and food security. One of the commitments announced provides for an investment of up to €2.5 billion in a biodiesel project at the Mataripe refinery, in Bahia, controlled by the United Arab Emirates.
Dubai should host COP28 at the end of this year and Brazil is a candidate to organize the event in 2025. The two countries announced that they will work together to “encourage ambitious climate action” in the rest of the world.
This was Lula’s second trip to the Emirates as head of state; the first visit took place in 2003, during his first term as president. His arrival at the presidential palace on Saturday was marked by a 21-gun salute. At night, the PT leader participated in the “iftar”, the supper that marks the end of daytime fasting during Ramadan, the Muslim holy month.
The Brazilian president left Abu Dhabi this morning and arrives early this Sunday afternoon in Lisbon. From there he still travels back to Brasilia.
(With information from AFP)
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