(14 May 2008) SHOTLIST
1. Pan right from Planalto presidential palace to guard of honour standing on road
2. Mid of guard of honour
3. Wide of car with German Chancellor Angela Merkel arriving
4. Mid of guard of honour
5. Wide of Merkel with guard walking toward Planalto palace
6. Wide of welcoming ceremony, zoom in on Merkel with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
7. Mid of guard of honour
8. Merkel and da Silva during ceremony
9. Wide of guard of honour
10. Da Silva and Merkel entering palace, waving, shaking hands, posing for photographers
STORYLINE:
German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned on Wednesday that bio-fuel production should not come at the expense of the environment, as she began a Latin American tour with a stop in Brazil, the world's main ethanol exporter.
Merkel was welcomed by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday at the Planalto presidential palace in Brasilia.
Brazil is the world's largest ethanol exporter and second-largest producer, and is home to about 70 percent of the Amazon rain forest.
The European Commission has said it wants to avoid importing bio-fuels grown on land which had remained largely untouched by humans or rich in wildlife.
Merkel's visit came a day after rain forest defender Marina Silva resigned as Brazil's environment minister, citing lack of political support.
Merkel described the resignation as a "warning sign."
Making her first visit to the region since becoming chancellor in 2005, Merkel will also visit Colombia, Mexico and Peru, where she will attend a summit of European Union and Latin American leaders on Friday.
Her office has brushed aside a recent attack on the chancellor by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
In a recent interview, Merkel said that Chavez did not speak for all of Latin America, and the Venezuelan president responded on Sunday by describing Merkel's conservative party as "the same right wing that supported Hitler and fascism."
Asked about Chavez' comments on Wednesday, Merkel gave no direct response.
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