Brazil's Lula says Doha deal only question of time

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Monday that an accord in stalled global trade talks was only a question of time and that a deal was essential to tackle terrorism and immigration problems.

The so-called Doha round of negotiations to slash trade barriers and farm subsidies collapsed last week in Geneva after the United States and India failed to agree on a proposal to help poor farmers deal with large-scale food imports.

"I don't believe the round has failed. We still have enormous possibilities to negotiate," Lula said in his weekly radio address.

As a leading agricultural exporter Brazil has been a key player in the trade talks, representing the interests of developing nations.

Lula discussed the Doha round with U.S. President George W. Bush by telephone on Saturday and this week plans to speak to Chinese President Hu Jintao and India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"I was very clear in telling Bush that it wasn't possible that two countries negotiating a nuclear treaty aren't able to agree on food issues, because there's little difference between them," Lula said in reference to India and the United States.

A successful conclusion of the Doha round would help reduce terrorism, secure peace and solve immigration problems.

"All that is linked to the possibility countries have to develop," Lula said.

"Those who already bet on defeat will be proven wrong because we will conclude the Doha round," Lula said. "It may take a month or two but we will do it."

(Reporting by Raymond Colitt; Editing by Bill Trott)