The foreign minister warned on Tuesday that Ukraine’s partners must prepare for a long conflict and maintain “clarity and determination” to continue to support Kiev against the Russian invasion.
In his speech at a hearing in the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, João Gomes Cravinho insisted on Lisbon’s support for Kiev in “its legitimate defense against illegal and unlawful Russian aggression” and that it will remain consistent with this position politically, militarily , financial and financial area. humanitarian aid, recalling the recent visit of his counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba.
“Unfortunately, we must be prepared for a conflict that could last for a long time, and it is essential that we have clarity and determination to maintain our support for Ukraine for as long as necessary, in cooperation with the dozens of other countries that have an equally proactive position.” , he noted, joining influence efforts in countries where relations are stronger.
Evaluating the diplomatic activities of recent months, the foreign minister referred to NATO, which is “growing with the changes in the world”, expressing Portugal’s support for the accession of Finland and soon of Sweden, a matter of the Alliance Summit in July in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Still in the multilateral framework, Cravinho spoke about the United Nations and the agreement on the Convention on Biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, emphasizing that “Portugal, as a coastal state and with its geographical position, looks with more attention” to the oceans.
The UN Human Rights Council, he added, has adopted two resolutions at the initiative of Portugal: one on economic, social and cultural rights, focusing on the importance of the right to social security, in the context of recovery from the pandemic crisis; and another, presented together with Brazil, fighting for the fight against stigma, discrimination and violence against people with psychosocial disabilities and users of mental health care.
Cravinho also stressed holding the Ibero-American summit, “to defend that the organization is a great alliance for the energy transition and approaches the CPLP”.
On a bilateral level, he underlined that the Luso-Brazilian Summit has returned after nearly seven years and “exceeded the best of expectations”, through a 99-paragraph closing statement and an extensive list of signed instruments, including the installation to establish in Portugal the Brazilian Agency for the promotion of exports and investments, the bet on the aviation sector “on the path of the success of Embraer’s investments”, and also on renewable energy.
According to Cravinho, this “demonstrates the breadth of bilateral relations and the topics discussed, and is representative of the high level of ambition that both sides place in this relationship”, and also highlights the importance of the recent visit to Portugal by the President of Colombia, “allowing to outline a whole range of common interests, from the fight against drug trafficking and drug addiction to renewable energies” and the organization of the Portugal-Angola Economic Forum.
João Gomes Cravinho also recalled his presence in Dakar as co-chair of the Luso-Senegalese Joint Commission, “allowing progress in cooperation in the sectors of fisheries, ports and other activities related to the sea, and in training in the tourism and diplomacy”, in addition to visiting colleagues in the Gambia and Mauritania.
“May was the month of the Maghreb. We had the high-level meeting between Portugal and Morocco, which brought the bilateral relationship to the level of a strategic partnership, and deepened the dialogue between multiple sectoral areas. Then we had the presidential meeting State visit of Algeria, which was also a success and showed that it is possible to have close and friendly relations with both countries,” he stressed, also recalling the trip to Tunisia on behalf of the European Union.
Cravinho also referred to the internationalization of Portuguese culture, maintaining “the strong and eternal lines of commemoration of the most important dates of our language and our culture, such as the World Day of the Portuguese Language and soon June 10”
Source: DN
