HSA Secretariat
September 17, 2002

Of the 10,149,542 Brazilians who participated in the plebiscite on the FTAA, 9,979,964 (98.33%) maintain that Brazil should not sign the Free Trade Area of the Americas treaty, versus 113,643 persons (1.67%) who believe that Brazil should join this economic bloc.

The results were released today, 17 September, in a press conference in the Nereu Ramos Auditorium of the Chamber of Deputies, in Brasilia, with the presence of representatives of the National Commission on the Plebiscite (MST, CUT, CONIC, among others).

As for the results of the second question - whether Brazil should continue to participate in the FTAA negotiations - 95.94% voted no. 98.59% of the voters answered no to the third question - whether Brazil should deliver control over the Launch Base in Alcántara, in Maranhao, to the United States.

Participation in the Plebiscite on the FTAA surpassed the four million persons who voted two years ago on the Plebiscite on the Foreign Debt.

Activities Continue

There was a march against the FTAA on the afternoon of 17 September in front of the Brasilia Cathedral. In addition to presenting the results of the plebiscite to the presidents of the Federal Supreme Court, Chamber of Deputies, Senate and the office of the President, a Show Against the FTAA will be held that evening in Expo Brasilia.

On 18 September there will be a meeting with the U.S. ambassador to deliver the results.