Portugal can talk to people who do not talk to each other
The President of the Republic today described Portugal as a country that “turned around” in the economic-financial sector and is “more than ever platform between cultures” capable of “talking to people who do not speak to each other”.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa presented this position in a Portuguese interview with United Nations Radio on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
According to the head of state, “Portugal now has a greater responsibility with regard to the United Nations”.
“On the one hand, because the Secretary-General [António Guterres] is Portuguese, on the other hand, because we support all the priorities of the Secretary-General,” he explained.
Asked if Portugal is fashionable, the President of the Republic considered that yes, “in a humbler sense”, because “Portugal has turned around in terms of financial crisis, Portugal has turned around in terms of economic crisis.”
“And Portugal is now even more than ever platform between various cultures, various civilizations and several continents. That is, Portugal can talk to people who do not speak to each other, can talk to States that do not speak well to each other,” he added.
At the United Nations, “Portugal can take part in initiatives” on topics as diverse as tuberculosis, migration or drugs, taking into account the policies and experience it has on these matters, he said.
With regard to the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said that Portugal sees “with great joy the peace process, the process of understanding, of conciliation, the holding of elections in Mozambique” and “the expectation of elections in Guinea-Bissau. ”
Insisting that it is possible to “go further” in the movement of people in the space of lusophony, the head of state declared: “At CPLP I am optimistic.”
Regarding the action of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the President of the Republic reiterated that Portugal supports its commitment to multilateralism, arguing that “not every state can begin to decide for itself”, as well as in the fight against climate change – “they are there “- and in the preoccupation with migrations and refugees,” the world can not turn a blind eye to them. ”
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa also reaffirmed that Portugal is by “opening the international market, can not each begin to take protectionist measures that create a negative tension and climate in the international community” and stressed the importance of peaceful resolution of conflicts.
“There must be dialogue, there has to be conciliation, there can not be one to say: I want this solution, I impose.” Then another comes and says, “I impose.” Now, as no one can call the world leadership, can or should, there must be concertation, “he said, pointing to the General Assembly as” a unique moment “for Heads of State and Government to exchange views.
