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Feb 09th
Home News Global Security Lula Says: “Brazil will get the nuclear submarine in the near future” and Sarkozy Wants to Help
Lula Says: “Brazil will get the nuclear submarine in the near future” and Sarkozy Wants to Help
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Agência Brasil - Folha Online - NPSGlobal, 12, 18, and 22 Dec 2008.

Today the President of France Nicolas Sarkozy starts his visit to Brazil, and the French Government is trying to include the structure of a nuclear submarine within the military equipment package, which will be signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, informed an report by Samy Adghirni and Claudio Dantas Sequeira, published by Folha de Sao Paulo.

According to the report, Lula has kept the option of building the submarine in cooperation open, rejecting the purchase because of its higher cost.

The journal Folha informs that the offered model would be a submarine class Suffren, known before as Barracuda. The cost of the basic version is about 1,1 billion dollars, and the full one about 2 billions.

The Ministry of Defense denies any discussion about such deal. French government keeps silent, but as per Folha, the lobby goes ahead.

Last 11 December, during the Sailor’s Day ceremony, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said that Brazil will get its nuclear submarine in the near future.

"Agreements to build the first Brazilian submarine with nuclear propulsion are becoming more concrete every day. In a few years, Brazil will be a part of the nations’ select group which possess this factor”, stated the President.

In the message, Lula also pointed out that one of the top priorities of the Navy’s Re-equipment Program is to acquire patrol ships which will operate around the off-shore oil platforms.

The Nation’s Vice-president, José Alencar, the Defense Minister, Nelson Jobim, and the President of the Senate, Garibaldi Alves (PMDB-RN), also attended the ceremony.

"This ceremony builds the Navy’s traditions and it is a part of what we call the integration between the Armed Forces and the Brazilian society”, said Jobim.

Lula said that Brazil will increase its attribution in South America, and will be in condition to help neighbor countries’ development.

"[The plan will be] an important piece for Brazil, to become an example of peace, harmony and development in South America", said the President in Brasilia.

The Defense Plan was reviewed on last Thursday by the National Defense Council, at the Planalto Palace. As Lula stated, after that presentation it was exposed to the Brazilian civil society.

Among the key points of the proposal -Jobim said- are the restructuring of the Armed Forces and the discussion of the role of the military institution within the Brazilian society.

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