Nigeria and Brazil on Saturday called for an urgent reform of the UN Security Council to make it more democratic and reflective of the changes in the international architecture. Presidents Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria and Dilma Rousseff of Brazil made the call in a joint communique issued at the conclusion of their two-hour, closed-door bilateral meeting at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa (State House) in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.
They described as a welcome development the ongoing effort to reform the UN, saying the reform would better equip the global organization to meet the current challenges in the maintenance of international peace and security.
In furtherance of their 'friendly relations and cooperation', the two countries exchanged information about their candidates for various international posts and agreed to support each other.
Nigeria is a candidate for election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the period of 2014-2015, while Brazilian Roberto Azevedo is a candidate for the post of Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Presidents Jonathan and Rousseff also agreed to actively collaborate in other sectors including agriculture and aviation.
On Aviation, they noted the importance of implementing their Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), and agreed to facilitate direct air links between the two countries to encourage better people-to-people exchanges and enhance trade between Brazil and Nigeria.
On the defence and security sectors, Nigeria and Brazil agreed to encourage exchange of visits by officials in the sectors with a view to boosting cooperation in these areas.
They agreed to promote training cooperation involving military officers of both countries by encouraging participation of Brazilian and Nigerian military officers in training programmes at the staff colleges of both countries.
Presidents Jonathan and Rousseff expressed satisfaction with the steady growth of friendly relations and co-operations between Nigeria and Brazil in the past 56 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1961.
Both sides expressed their readiness and strong commitment to expand cooperation in various fields and promote the growth of the partnership between the two countries in line with the principles of mutual benefit, mutual respect and mutual interest.
On Mali, they commended the efforts of the international community, the ECOWAS and the neighbouring countries in supporting the Malian people in restoring their national unity and territorial integrity, building democratic institutions and fighting the twin scourges of terrorism and organised crime.
They emphasised the importance of intra-Malian dialogue and the international community's development and humanitarian assistance in laying a sound basis for long-term stability in Mali.
On Guinea Bissau, they expressed their serious concern regarding the present political and institutional crisis in the country, and the deterioration of the socio-economic and humanitarian situation of its people.
They expressed their support for the efforts of the African Union, the ECOWAS and the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries in promoting inclusive dialogue and the conditions for sustainable progress in restoring constitutional order through a democratic electoral process that respects political freedom and human rights.
Both leaders are now participating in the Nigeria-Brazil Forum, where the business people in the entourage of President Rousseff will interact with their Nigerian counterparts as part of efforts to boost trade and investment between the two nations.
Pana 24/02/2013