Lula and Macron discuss Venezuelan elections and global conflicts

Brasilia, March 28 (EFE).- The presidents of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and France, Emmanuel Macron, sent a strong message this Thursday to the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, whom they urged to hold democratic elections "with the participation of everyone."

CAMERA: ALEX MIRKHAN.

FOOTAGE: OFFICIAL MEETING OF THE PRESIDENTS OF BRAZIL AND FRANCE TODAY AT THE PLANALTO PALACE, IN BRASILIA. STATEMENTS BY LUIZ INÁCIO LULA DA SILVA, PRESIDENTS OF BRAZIL AND EMMANUEL MACRON, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE.

TRANSLATIONS:

LULA DA SILVA:

"THE COUNTRIES THAT ARE PART OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL DO NOT RESPECT IT AND MAKE UNILATERAL DECISIONS, WITHOUT DISCUSSING IT IN ANY FORUM. THAT IS WHY WE DO NOT AGREE AND WE OPPOSE THE WAR, AND WE DECIDE NOT TO TAKE PART, BECAUSE WE WANT TO CREATE CONDITIONS TO FIND A WAY TO GET BACK TO THE NEGOTIATION TABLE."

"BRAZIL IS NOT NEGOTIATING WITH FRANCE. MERCOSUR IS NEGOTIATING WITH THE EU. I CONFESS THAT THE AGREEMENT, AS IT IS PROPOSED NOW, IS MUCH MORE PROMISING TO SIGN THAN THE OTHER ONE. BUT OBVIOUSLY, JUST AS BRAZIL HAD THE RIGHT TO BE AGAINST THE FIRST PROPOSAL, IT IS NORMAL AND DEMOCRATIC THAT PRESIDENT MACRON HAS THE RIGHT TO BE AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL."

"NOW, IT IS SERIOUS THAT THE CANDIDATE COULD NOT BE REGISTERED. IT WAS NOT BANNED BY THE COURTS. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SHE WENT TO THE PLACE AND TRIED TO USE THE LOCAL COMPUTER AND COULD NOT GET IN. THEN IT WAS SOMETHING THAT CAUSED DAMAGE TO A CANDIDATE.

BUT THERE IS NO LEGAL OR POLITICAL EXPLANATION FOR BANNING AN OPPONENT FROM BEING A CANDIDATE."

EMMANUEL MACRON:

"AND IT IS GOOD TO KNOW WHERE EVERYONE LIVES, THINGS ARE CLEAR. WE ARE ON THE SAME SIDE, THAT IS, ON THE SIDE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, OF THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE PEOPLE, AND OF THE FACT THAT, WHEN A COUNTRY IS ATTACKED ON ITS BORDERS BY A THIRD POWER, WE CONDEMN IT."

"IN FACT, I COMPLETELY SHARE WHAT WAS SAID, WE FIRMLY CONDEMN THE EXCLUSION OF A VERY SERIOUS AND CREDIBLE CANDIDATE FROM THIS PROCESS. WE ASK FOR HER REINSTATEMENT, AND I SINCERELY HOPE THAT WE CAN HAVE A PANORAMA LIKE THIS... SO "IT WILL BE RECONSTRUCTED IN THE COMING WEEKS, NEXT MONTH. WE SHOULD NOT GET DESPERATE TODAY, SO SAY, BUT THE SITUATION IS SERIOUS. IT HAS DETERIORATED WITH THIS DECISION THAT WAS MADE."

"LONG LIVE TRADE AGREEMENTS THAT FAVOR THE COAL INDUSTRY, WHICH FAVOR THE PROTECTION OF BIODIVERSITY. AND PREFERABLY NOT MAKE TRADE AGREEMENTS THAT MAKE US BACK TWO STEPS AND THAT WOULD NOT BE COHERENT. THAT IS, IT IS A PRINCIPLE."