Nicaraguan President Off To Brazil For Cooperation
Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega, who bid good-bye to visiting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez this morning, is enroute to Brazil Monday to boost bilateral cooperation, a source close to the Sandinista government announced.

In remarks to local press, Managua Mayor Marenco said that in Brazil, Ortega is expected to negotiate the acquisition of a new bus fleet for public transportation in Managua.

He is also expected to seek Brazilian cooperation in issues related to construction, electric power, hydraulic energy and the production of ethanol, he added.

According to Marenco, the Nicaraguan government is in contact with a large Brazilian construction company that "is able to build virtually anything," and the technicians have already visited Nicaragua.

Nicaraguan Ambassador to Brazil Suyapa Padilla told foreign press on Mondy that Ortega will arrive in Brasilia on Wednesday to meet with his counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Ortega s trip, his first official visit to Brazil since he assumed the presidency of Nicaragua on January 10, is yet to be confirmed by the Council of Communication and Citizenry of the Sandinista government.