During his official visit to Brazil - the first by an Israeli president in 43 years - Peres obtained from Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva a declared willingness to contribute to negotiations in the Middle East.

This commitment was particularly significant since Brazil is also set to host in the coming days Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on November 20 and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on November 23.

   ′We need to talk more and to find more partners who want to help in peace-building in the Middle East. And we do not refuse to talk to anyone, as long as in that chat we can get a word, or at least a comma, that might help build peace,′ Lula said Wednesday, in a joint press conference with Peres.

   ′You know that there will be no peace without political concessions,′ he said, addressing Peres directly.

Rio was the last stage in Peres′ official visit to Brazil. He was set to remain in the country Saturday to observe the Shabbat before travelling to Argentina Sunday.

Alongside Petrobras president Jose Sergio Gabrielli, Peres watched Friday a presentation on the company′s business plan for 2009-2013. This included plans for drilling in huge oil fields found very deep below the surface of the Atlantic in Brazil′s waters, where Brazilian authorities have estimated reserves at 80 billion barrels of oil.

Peres arrived in Brazil Monday and met with Lula Wednesday in Brasilia before visiting Sao Paulo, Brazil′s main financial centre, on Thursday.