The prime minister will take part in ceremonies in Santiago de Chile on Monday to mark the 50th anniversary of the military coup that toppled democratically elected President Salvador Allende and brought to power the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet.
With these ceremonies, the Chilean government wants to commemorate the victims of the Pinochet regime, which lasted until 1988, and leave a message in favor of democracies and respect for human rights.
In addition to António Costa, the presence of several heads of state and government is expected, especially from Latin American countries, such as Mexico, López Obrador, from Colombia, Gustavo Petro, from Argentina, Alberto Fernández, and from Uruguay, Luís Lacalle Pou.
António Costa arrives on Sunday in the Chilean capital, where he was already on an official visit as Prime Minister in June 2017, during a tour that started in Brazil with the Portugal Day celebrations and also passed through Argentina.
Accompanied by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Francisco André, the leader of the Portuguese executive will be present at the beginning of Sunday evening at the official dinner organized by the President of the Republic of Chile, Gabriel Boric, with whom he will next day meeting. In the afternoon, a bilateral meeting will take place at La Moneda Palace, the headquarters of the Chilean government.
According to the official program, on Monday, the 50th anniversary of the military coup of September 11, 1973, a reception will be held by the Chilean head of state at the La Moneda Palace, at 8:25 am local time (four less than in Portugal).
Together with other foreign guests, António Costa will have breakfast there, followed by a joint tour of the palace, before the first solemn act commemorating the 50th anniversary of the coup, scheduled for 10 a.m. local time, including a cultural moment and a brief intervention by Senator Isabel Allende.
An hour and a half later, a second commemorative act will begin in Constitution Square with a speech by the President of Chile, who will be accompanied by human rights organizations.
Still on Monday morning, a ‘Declaration of Commitment to Democracy’ will be signed – a protocol act that will be followed by musical interventions.
The ceremonies will also be attended by the President of the Federal Council of Germany and the Hamburg Chamber, Peter Tschentscher, as well as former presidents of Colombia (Ernesto Samper and Juan Manuel Santos), Costa Rica (Laura Chinchilla), Uruguay (José Mujica) and also the former leader of the Spanish government Felipe González.
Source: DN
