Ghana and Brazil agree on the partial abolition of visas

Accra, April 13, GNA - Ghana and Brazil on Wednesday agreed on the implementation of partial abolition of visas for diplomatic, official or service passports which should be negotiated by exchange of notes through diplomatic channels. This arrangement takes effect in the next 30 days.

Both countries stressed the importance of the signing of an Air Services Agreement between them for the establishment of direct air link between the two countries which would significantly contribute to further increased in mutual knowledge through the development of tourism and the implementation of economic and commercial exchanges.

The agreement was contained in a 25-point Communiqu=E9 adopted at the end of the two-day State visit to Ghana by the Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva in Accra.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ghana and Mr Celso Amorim, Minister of External Relations of Brazil, signed the communiqu=E9.

The two countries reiterated their determination to play their roles in eradicating hunger and poverty at the domestic and international level and recalled the importance of the "New York Declaration on Action Against Hunger and Poverty".

The declaration affirmed the decision of concerned countries to fight against poverty and social injustice in the world by means of new initiatives which made economic and social development one of the world's top-most priorities.

They underscored the need for the expansion of trade, commerce and investments between the private sector operators as well as the concerned public institutions of Ghana and Brazil.

The two countries expressed satisfaction with the meetings held between the business groups of both countries and welcomed the inauguration of the Ghana-Brazil Chamber of Commerce and Industry as a vehicle to facilitate bilateral cooperation between them.

On Africa, both countries expressed concern over the situation in Cote d'Ivoire and emphasised the importance of ensuring that elections scheduled for this year should take place.

They agreed on the need for reforms in the United Nations (UN) including the Security Council to reflect contemporary realities through the admission of new members especially from developing countries as permanent members of an expanded Council.

Both countries also expressed appreciation on the call by Busumuru Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the UN, for decisions on the reform of the Council to be taken before the UN Summit scheduled for September this year.