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Brazilian ambassador in Chile described as mere "fantasy" alleged statements by President Lula da Silva particularly offensive towards Chile, Argentine president Nestor Kirchner and former Uruguayan president Jorge Batlle.
"I can assure you it is all mere fantasy," said Ambassador Mário Vilalva in Santiago adding that "I can back my words because I happened to be at the official dinner at the Brazilian Embassy in Tokyo," when the alleged incident took place. In a book just released titled Viagens com o Presidente (Travels with the President) two Brazilian journalists, Eduardo Scolese and Leonencio Nossa wrote that President Lula in the Embassy in Tokyo referred to Chile as "shit; Chile is a joke. They make agreements with the Americans. They want us here to be screwed. They piss on us". Talking about the Argentine president Kirchner, Lula apparently said that "there are moments, my dear friends, in which I would like to send Kirchner to hell, tell him to fuck off." And speaking of former Uruguayan president Jorge Batlle his comments were also particularly aggressive and offensive. "Dam Batlle, he is not Uruguayan. He was brought up in the United States. He's a cub of the Americans" Ambassador Vilalva rejects those alleged statements point blank because "during the dinner there were no journalists present and I was there. By mere chance I had to organize most of the President's trip to Tokyo". "I'm a witness not only that no journalists were present but also that the President never said such things", insisted the diplomat who was trying to dismiss excerpts from the book published in São Paulo's prestigious daily Folha de S. Paulo. Ambassador Vilalva also pointed out the fact that Brazil is only a month away from the presidential election and "it's normal that these kinds of slurs emerge. People become nervous and begin publishing these things. That's the only explanation I can think off". The diplomat recalled that President Lula has a very comfortable lead in public opinion polls, over 50% support and "I wouldn't be surprised if there's the intention of harming him or damaging his image". But the truth is "that it's all mere fantasy and not only because I happen to be the Brazilian ambassador but also because I was at the dinner table with the President". Asked if it was true that President Lula da Silva was a heavy drinker, ambassador Vilalva replied that "I've never seen it. I've never seen the President drink. Obviously he does drink like any normal person sitting for dinner or any other meal but that does not mean he's a heavy drinker. I can't support such a statement". Finally the diplomat said he did not know journalists Scolese and Nossa who cover Executive branch information in Brazil. Mercopress
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