Hillary Clinton arrives in Brazil to discuss controversial issues

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Brazil on Tuesday for a visit of less than 24 hours, during which she will meet with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, to discuss issues on which both countries have different opinions, Xinhua reported.  
   Among the issues to be discussed are the Brazilian position on the Iranian nuclear program, the U.S. offer in the tender opened by Brazil for the purchase of 36 fighter jets and the South American country's relations with Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia and Honduras.  
   The most controversial among them is the Brazilian support for Iran's nuclear program for alleged peaceful purposes, which raised strong criticism in the U.S. Congress.  
   On Wednesday afternoon, the U.S. secretary will head for Sao Paulo, where she will have meetings with businessmen and will also visit the University Zumbi dos Palmares, the first in Brazil devoted specifically to African descendant students.
   Clinton's visit is a preparation for the first visit of President Barack Obama to Brazil, which is expected to occur in the second half of this year.  
   Before coming to Brazil, the secretary of state visited Argentina, Uruguay -- where she participated in the inauguration ceremony of President Jose Mujica -- and Chile, where she offered aid to rebuild the country seriously affected by a powerful earthquake on Feb. 27.