Government plans seven more consulates, five in Brazil
"I've been told that there's an idea to create seven more consulates, five of them in Brazil," said the portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
The Portuguese government plans to open seven more consulates, five of which will be in Brazil, and perhaps one in Recife, the country’s president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, has announced, praising the ministry of foreign affairs for doing so.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was speaking to the minister of state and foreign affairs, Paulo Rangel, during a meeting with representatives of the Portuguese community, at the Gabinete Português de Leitura de Pernambuco (Pernambuco Portuguese Reading Centre), in Recife on Monday.
“I had something written here, but I don’t know if the minister of state and foreign affairs authorises me to say it, but I think this has been approved. I’ve been told that there’s an idea to create seven more consulates, five of them in Brazil,” said the head of state.
Addressing Paulo Rangel, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa asked: “Can I mention it or is it better not to?”.
The country’s president interpreted the minister’s answer as a ‘so-so’ and continued: “And possibly one in Recife. That’s it, there’s no more secrecy”.
The head of state considered that his words were part of “institutional co-operation” and said he was convinced that “this has been discussed in parliament”.
“Well, it’s important, but it deserves it. It just means that we have a ministry of foreign affairs that is very attentive to what is going on,” he praised.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa arrived in Recife on Sunday for an official visit to Brazil, at the invitation of president Lula da Silva, who will receive him on Tuesday at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia.
For the government’s part, he is accompanied by the minister of state and foreign affairs, Paulo Rangel. Since it is not a state visit as classified by the Portuguese presidency office, the delegation does not include parliamentarians.
On Wednesday, the day on which the head of state will be returning to Portugal, it will be the prime minister, Luís Montenegro, who will be meeting with Lula da Silva during the 14th Luso-Brazilian Summit, to which he will be taking 11 of the 17 ministers of the PSD/CDS-PP government, and then travelling from Brasilia to São Paulo for an economic forum.