BRASILIA, Brazil, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell lauded a proposal by Brazil to create a global hunger erradication program but disaggreed with its implementation.
Last month during the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called for the creation of worldwide hunger eradication program to be funded by wealthy nations via a tax on international financial transactions.
The model for the program is based on Brazil's own "Zero Fome" (Zero Hunger) initiative, started by Lula soon after he assumed office in January 2003.
"These ideas are impractical," said Powell in a taped interview aired Wednesday on the popular TV show, "Good Morning Brazil."
The secretary was in Brazil for a three-day visit to meet with Lula, Foreign Minister Celso Amorim and business leaders.
In the interview, Powell went on to reiterate assertions made Tuesday that Brazil is indeed a strong candidate for becoming a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council in the event it decides to expand its ranks based on Brazil's commitment to promoting peace in the region and being one of the world´s largest democracies.
Meanwhile, during Powell´s meeting with Amorim Tuesday, the secretary said he was not concerned about Brazil´s nuclear program, despite its recent squabble with the United Nations regarding upcoming inspections.
