The money quote is this one by the Bolivian president: "From the moment we base ourselves in legality and respect for property, and by fulfilling agreements, there will never be problems. I am convinced of that,"

That is a significant change of tune from the one he was singing a few months ago when he sent troops into the Petrobras plants.

A Brazilian I talked to yesterday is of the opinion that this new-found backbone on the part of Brazil is due to Lula's recent chumminess with Bush.

Time will tell.