Brazilian President Travels to Moscow John Neagle

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10-18-1988 Brazilian President Travels To Moscow John Neagle

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Recommended Citation Neagle, John. "Brazilian President Travels To Moscow." (1988). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/notisur/2392

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Latin America Digital Beat (LADB) at UNM Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in NotiSur by an authorized administrator of UNM Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. LADB Article Id: 074116 ISSN: 1060-4189 Brazilian President Travels To Moscow by John Neagle Category/Department: General Published: Tuesday, October 18, 1988

On Oct. 17, Brazilian President Jose Sarney arrived in Moscow from Paris, France, for a three- day official visit in the Soviet Union. Accompanying Sarney from the airport to the Kremlin were several Soviet officials, including Eduard Shevardnadze, foreign minister and member of the Soviet Communist Party Central Committee's Politburo, and Anatoly Lukyanov, alternate member of the Politburo and first vice president of the Supreme Soviet Presidium. At the Kremlin, Soviet Communist Party secretary general Mikhail Gorbachev presided over a formal welcome for Sarney. Sarney is the first Brazilian president to visit the Soviet Union in over 40 years of tense relations between the two nations. During 21 years of military rule ending in 1985, Brazil maintained trade relations with Moscow, while diplomatic ties were almost non-existent. The Brazilian delegation is comprised of some 150 persons, including ministers and other officials, business persons, politicians and selected special guests such as writer Jorge Amado. In official discussions, trade is expected the principal agenda item. For several years, bilateral trade has consistently been in Brazil's favor. In 1987, Brazil exported a total of $377.5 million in goods to the USSR, compared to $70 million in imports from that country. The two most important Brazilian exports to the Soviet Union are soybeans and sugar, while Brazil's major import from the USSR is oil. At present, the two countries have organized participation in several joint enterprises, including the construction of a hydroelectric dam in Angola, and the export and processing of orange juice concentrate and clothing. During Sarney's official visit, officials are expected to sign 10 cooperation agreements in the areas of trade, scientific and technological exchange, agriculture, and mining, among others. Included is an agreement on the opening of consulates in Rio de Janeiro and Leningrad. Prior to arriving in Moscow, Sarney and entourage spent two days in France where the president attended dedication ceremonies on the publication of the French translation of a collection of his poetry. Sarney met briefly with French President Francois Mitterand. On Oct. 20 from Leningrad, the Brazilian delegation will depart for Portugal. After dedication of Brazil's new embassy in Lisbon, Sarney returns to Brasilia on Oct. 23. (Basic data from Tass, 10/17/88; AP, 10/14/88)

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