A Quick Look at the Brazilian Press

Summary: Brazilian news media today reported on Iran’s request that Russia and Mexico support its nuclear exchange agreement with Brazil and Turkey. A number of commentators were critical of USG efforts towards the adoption of sanctions against Iran, accusing President Obama of bowing to domestic pressure and the USG of trying to act as the world’s “referee.” Conversely, an editorial in Estado wrote that Brazil’s actions have helped Iran on its path to nuclear weapons and distanced Brazil from a place on the UN Security Council. Valor reported on Defense Minister Jobim’s announcement that Brazil’s FX-2 purchase will be contingent on the vendor nation’s purchase of Embraer transport planes. Papers reported on Brazilian efforts to lobby for the removal of U.S. ethanol tariffs, alleged certainty on the part of GoB law enforcement that the FARC is present in Brazil, and the winner of the U.S. Consulate Rio-sponsored Astronomy Olympics.

Iran – News and Commentary

Iran asks Russia and Mexico to endorse nuclear agreement – O Globo 24/ Valor Economico: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad requested the support of Russia and Mexico yesterday for the nuclear agreement reached last week with Brazil and Turkey, on the eve of the deadline for the Iranian government to hand in a letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Iranian Foreign Minister Manoucherh Mottaki traveled to Mexico to meet Mexican President Felipe Calderon to attempt to gain his support for the fuel-swap agreement, in an attempt to avoid UN sanctions. In the meantime, the President of the Iranian Parliament, Ali Larijani, reiterated threats to reject the agreement if sanctions are imposed on the country. “If the U.S. ... really seeks sanctions, it will make two important countries look ridiculous,” he is quoted. http://migre.me/HSey and http://migre.me/HSrB

Editorial: “Diplomatic Suicide:” Brazil’s negotiation efforts with Iran “turns into smoke” – O Estado de S. Paulo A3: In an op-ed, the daily writes that, in practical terms, the GoB has helped Tehran to obtain the nuclear bomb by signing an agreement last week with Turkey and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. O Globo believes that the episode made Brazilian diplomacy lose its credibility and moved Brazil further away from its goal of obtaining a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. The daily believes that Tehran is using Brazil and Turkey to buy time before UN sanctions are imposed. http://migre.me/HSfj

Op-ed (Arlindo Chinaglia): “An agreement for peace” – O Globo 6: Brazilian Federal Deputy Arlindo Chinaglia (PT-Sao Paulo), writes an op-ed hailing GoB efforts to reach an agreement with Turkey and Iran on uranium enrichment. Article claims that the deal was an outstanding accomplishment by President Lula and Brazilian diplomacy. “The world and the Middle East do not need another war. Brazil has opened the gates for dialogue and peace,” he said. Chinaglia also notes the growing commercial ties between Brazil and Iran. http://migre.me/HSgM

Foreign relations specialists criticize USG for proposing sanctions against Iran – O Globo 24: Brazilian foreign relations specialists believe that President Barack Obama’s move to seek UN sanctions against Iran just one day after Brazil and Turkey reached a nuclear fuel agreement with Iran was evidence that he was bowing to domestic political pressure. Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ) International Relations Professor Williams Gonçalves says Obama indicated that he wanted an agreement with Tehran, but had to step back because of domestic pressure. Senator Eduardo Azeredo, President of the Brazilian Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee, said that the letter Obama sent to Lula encouraging an agreement with Tehran also warned that Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had not offered enough guarantees that his country would do its part. http://migre.me/HSXX

Analysis: Use of force is commonplace in U.S. foreign policy – Jornal do Brasil A22: The daily writes that U.S. interventionist policy - in order to safeguard U.S. global hegemony - is evidenced by its opposition to the agreement on uranium enrichment signed between Brazil, Turkey and Iran. JB also notes the presence of U.S. troops and bases all around the world and U.S. reluctance to comply with a World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling against subsidies to U.S. cotton farmers. “On ideological grounds, Washington still claims to be the Earth’s referee, deciding, for example, what qualifies as human rights and which countries respect or violate them,” concludes JB. http://migre.me/HUsf

Jobim wants to condition FX-2 fighter acquisition on the sale of Embraer transport KC-390 – Valor Economico A2: Geneva correspondent Assis Moreira reports that Defense Minister Nelson Jobim announced that the purchase of 12 Embraer transport aircraft KC-390 from Brazil will be a pre-condition for the Brazilian acquisition of 36 advanced jet fighters from France, the United States or Sweden. “We want the signing [of the acquisition contracts] to take place simultaneously,” Jobim is quoted. According to the minister, the Defense Ministry document explaining winner of the FX-2 competition and the reasons for choosing the selected fighter should be presented to President Lula over the next few days. According to Jobim, there is a global market of 300 to 400 medium-size transport aircraft like the KC-390, which should become operational in 2014. http://migre.me/HSOm

Dream realized: Astronomy Olympics winner plans her trip to the U.S. - O Dia 9: The daily publishes a profile of Rio Astronomy Olympics winner, Ana Luiza Santos Martin, a young mother who returned to high school after dropping out due to an unexpected pregnancy. [The Astronomy Olympics were the result of a partnership between the U.S. Consulate in RJ, the Rio State Secretariat of Education, O Dia newspaper and the Rio Planetarium. The final competition took place on Friday, May 21.]

TV – Brazilian students honored at largest U.S. science education competition – Band News 05/24/2010: http://migre.me/HTU6

Reward and punishment – NY tries management shock in schools – Folha de S. Paulo C8 / SP schools test part of reform carried out in NY – Folha de S. Paulo C8: Paper reports that changes implemented by NY mayor Michael Bloomberg in schools have increased graduation rates. He has given more autonomy to directors to manage resources and hire or fire teachers, but in exchange for results – if they achieve good performance they will get bonuses; otherwise the schools could be closed. A related story says the NY model wouldn’t be implemented in Brazilian schools, but notes some specialists say certain aspects may inspire local policies. Paper says some of the measures are already being tested in 20 public schools in Sao Paulo, in a pilot project of the Itau Social Institution and Fernand Braudel Institute.

Business, Economics, and Trade:

Brazil “invades” the U.S. to sell ethanol – O Estado de S. Paulo N6: Paper reports Brazil’s Sugar Cane Industry Association (UNICA) is intensifying its campaign in the U.S. to end the tariff barrier against Brazil’s ethanol. Paper reports UNICA will do promotional events tomorrow at two gas stations close to the U.S. Congress by giving a 54-cent discount per gallon of gasoline. “It’s a symbolic way to show how much Americans could save if the U.S. Congress were to withdraw the tariff,” said Joel Velasco, UNICA’s representative in Washington. http://migre.me/HSdl

Crisis brings 400,000 Brazilian migrants back home – Valor Economico A14: Thousands of Brazilians who had emigrated during past economic crises in Brazil are now coming back because of recent crises in the United States and Europe, and because of a more positive economic outlook in Brazil. According to Finance Minister Guido Mantega, around 400,000 Brazilians returned from abroad in recent years – an estimated 13% of all Brazilians currently residing abroad. http://migre.me/HSQk

Colombia-Brazil: The FARC are amongst us – Correio Braziliense 24: From the top newspaper in Brasilia: “After last month’s arrest of [guerilla] Jose Samuel Sanchez in Manaus, Brazilian officials have no more doubt that the FARC presence in Brazil is a reality. Despite the fact that [Brazilian law enforcement officials] believe that the number of people involved with the guerilla is small [in Brazil], they are concerned about the fact that most of them are involved with drug trafficking.” http://migre.me/HT71

Government and Politics

President Lula’s official agenda for today – Blog do Noblat: The president will be in Brasilia all day today. http://migre.me/HRSy

Political highlights for the week ahead – Blog do Fernando Rodrigues: http://migre.me/HS5v

Blog (Gustavo Chacra): This year’s war may be in the Pacific (North vs. South Korea), not in the Middle East – De Beirute a Nova York: Estado’s NY correspondent writes in his blog that although most people expect that a conflict may emerge sometime this year between the United States, Israel, Iran, Hezbollah and Syria, people may be underrating the possibility of a conflict on the Korean Peninsula. http://migre.me/HRWW

TV- Bom Dia Brasil and Globo News Em Cima da Hora 05/24/2010: South Korea suspends trade relations with North Korea. http://migre.me/HTQn

and http://migre.me/HTNb

The above summary reflects the reporting and opinions expressed by the cited news media. Candex does not independently verify information, nor do the reports necessarily reflect the opinion or reporting of the board of Candex.