Carlos Eduardo Lins da Silva – Folha de S. Paulo, 5/31/2014
Ten years ago on August 18th, with then President Lula in the audience, the Brazilian national soccer team with Ronaldo and Ronaldinho Gaúcho, beat Haiti in Port au Prince 6-0 in what was called the “Match of Peace.”
The event symbolized the Brazilian presence as the head of the UN mission in Haiti since 2004.
President Lula’s decision to accept this mission had to do with his ambition to project the country in the international stage as a first class actor even in areas that do not align with the country’s innate geopolitical interests.
Among the objectives on this agenda was gaining a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
Lula’s willingness to take the lead with MINUSTAH was very well received by the U.S. Administration under George W. Bush.
Haiti, an extremely unstable and poor country, has been an issue of concern for Washington due to its geographical location, ever since its independence in 1804. Continue reading “The goal of projecting the country overseas is still a distant one”
Brazil Portal 
