Merwe on the occasion of the National Day of Portugal
10 June 2007
Your Excellency, Ambassador Barbosa
Your Excellencies
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Bom dia (good morning)
On behalf of the government and people of South Africa, I would like also
like to extend our warm congratulations to the government and the people of
Portugal on the occasion of the celebration of their national day. Also known
as Camoes Day, today, throughout the world all people who call Portugal their
home observe with a sense of pride their country's historical achievements
dramatically captured in the epic poem "Lusiad", making Portugal one of the
important building blocks of the European Renaissance.
This day offers an opportunity to the people of Portugal to celebrate the
trials and triumphs of the Portuguese poet Camoes, whose prose embodies the
spirit of a great nation. As a proud nation ourselves, we join our Portuguese
comrades and friends in celebration of this auspicious day on their national
calendar.
Both our countries have experienced rapid domestic socio-economic
transformation as part of our respective economic growth and development
strategies. We also have to remain alive to the challenges and opportunities
that are provided by the processes of globalisation, which necessitate the
adoption of dynamic foreign policies, including expanding of our foreign
relationships to build partnerships with countries that share similar
agendas.
The increasing strength of bilateral relations between our two countries is
underpinned by our similar values and principles including the maintenance of
international peace and security; the primacy of the role of international law;
as well as the importance of the role of the United Nations in global
governance that anchor our respective foreign policy principles. This growing
bilateral relationship has been re-enforced by a number of reciprocal
high-level visits in the past few years in diverse areas such as politics,
defence, trade and social development amongst others. In March last year,
President Mbeki attended the inauguration of President Anibal Cavaco Silva.
This was followed by an official visit by the Deputy President in November
2006.
Beyond a common approach to many international challenges, we also share a
passion and commitment for the African continent. This was confirmed by the
solemn message by Prime Minister Socrates during his address to the United
National General Assembly in 2006, where he stressed that: "Portugal has given
great attention to this continent Africa, which we cannot allow to be
forgotten. There is progress to be encouraged, as well as historic
responsibilities to which the developed world cannot turn its back."
There is a significant degree of convergence between South Africa and
Portugal on major international issues such as conflict-resolution,
peacekeeping and the promotion of peace, security and development in Africa.
Portugal is currently involved in peacekeeping operations in the Democratic
Republic of Congo and Sudan, countries in which we are also deeply involved.
Just as Portugal played a significant role in the European Renaissance, we hope
that our partnership through forums such as the United Nations (UN) and the
European Union (EU)-Africa Summit, will ensure that we increase and sustain the
momentum towards the rebirth of our continent.
Today, more than any other time in history, we are provided with an
opportunity to make a real contribution in creating the kind of world we
envisage. We must therefore harness the resource that is our people in all
their diversity to inform our vision to the world. I am sure that you will
agree Ambassador, that there is no substitute for people-to-people contact in
our quest to strengthen and consolidate our relations. Governments can only
establish the framework and right conditions, but ultimately, enduring
relationships are about people.
I wish to conclude with an extract from Camoes' famous poem "The Lusiad"
written by a great poet and recording high spirited action of his country men.
I quote:
"And, onward still, thy fame his proud heart's guide
Haunting him unappeased, the dreary tide
Beneath the southern star's cold gleam he braves,
And stems the whirls of land-surrounded waves
For ever sacred to the hero's fame,
These foaming straits shall bear his deathless name
Through these dread jaws of rock he presses on,
Another ocean's breast, immense, unknown,
Beneath the south's cold wings, unmeasured, wide,
Receives his vessels; through the dreary tide
In darkling shades, where never man before
Heard the waves howl, he dares the nameless shore."
Once more, our warm congratulations on your national day. Ladies and
gentlemen, please raise your glasses and drink to the health of the people and
government of Portugal.
Issued by: Department Foreign Affairs
10 June 2007
Source: Department Foreign Affairs (http://www.dfa.gov.za)
