(7 Sep 2009)
1. Various exterior shots of Alvorada presidential palace
2. French and Brazilian flags
3. French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva walking towards news briefing
4. Pan of Brazilian and French delegations seated
5. Wide of presidents at podiums
6. Close of Sarkozy
7. Reporter asking question
8. SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil (++SOUNDBITE STARTS ON WIDE SHOT++):
"Deep down, what Brazil really wants is to purchase a plane and to be guaranteed the total use of this plane, and for us to be able to transfer all of its possible technology (toward our own development)."
9. Delegations seated
10. SOUNDBITE (French) Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France:
++CLIENTS PLEASE NOTE: NOT VERBATIM TRANSLATION++
"We are very interested, and I'm just talking about the possibility, just a possibility, of buying the Brazilian transport airplanes to replace our fleet of C-130 planes, which are from the United States. As it is, we must replace those planes, and for those who are less familiar with this issue, it has nothing to do with the dossier. So yes I said that we would like to buy these Brazilian aircrafts and the negotiations will start with the same conditions."
11. Sarkozy speaking to Lula at podium
12. SOUNDBITE (French) Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France:
"This is a very historic visit to Brazil for us. But you can have full confidence that France will be a trustworthy ally. I can tell each Brazilian that each Frenchman will do their best so you are not deceived. We will be up to the standards in this strategic alliance."
13. Audience applauding
14. Sarkozy and Lula embrace
STORYLINE:
Brazil's president said on Monday his country is negotiating with France for the purchase of 36 Rafale combat jets, a sign that Dassault SA is the clear favourite to win the 2 (b) billion-plus US dollar contract.
The announcement released by the office of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva came during a Brazilian Independence Day visit by French
President Nicolas Sarkozy.
The announcement said negotiations have begun with Dassault, "taking into account the breadth of the proposed transfers of technology and the guarantees offered on the part of the French."
Sweden's Saab AB has been offering its Gripen fighter and Boeing Co. of the US has proposed the F-18 Super Hornet for the Brazilian contract, which is expected to be worth about 2.2 to 2.5 billion US dollars.
Sarkozy, meanwhile, told a news conference that France plans to acquire a dozen KC-390 military cargo transport planes made by Brazil's Embraer to replace US-made C-130s it now uses.
"France will be a trustworthy, efficient partner," Sarkozy said.
"We do not fear sharing technology."
A Brazilian deal would be a breakthrough for France, which has yet to find a foreign buyer for the jets. The French government has been trying for years to market the Rafales, from Saudi Arabia to India and elsewhere, but has yet to clinch a deal.
While the announcement gives Dassault an inside track on the sale, Silva indicated that the negotiations do not rule out purchase of a rival plane.
The two leaders have put an emphasis on warm personal chemistry and France's status as the only European Union member with a border with Brazil: French Guiana sits north of South America's largest country.
Sarkozy also announced France supports Rio de Janeiro's bid for the 2016 Olympic Games, and asked that Brazil back France's proposal to host the 2018 winter games.

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