Brazilian President Meets State Duma Speaker

President Fernando Henrique Cardoso has met chairman of the Russian State Duma Gennady Seleznev Tuesday. Cardoso is on an official visit to Russia. The Russian speaker noted at the meeting "the coincidence of opinions of the two countries' leaders on many international issues." Seleznev stated that Russian-Brazilian relations "are acquiring a new character." He believes that the Brazilian president's visit will contribute to the development of cooperation between the two countries in political, economic and cultural spheres. Seleznev stated that the State Duma would soon ratify the Treaty on Cooperation in Space concluded between Russia and Brazil. The government submitted the treaty to the lower parliamentary house in December 2001.