The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil defended, this Thursday, regarding the statements by the Portuguese President about the errors of the colonial past“a reparation policy” like your country already has in relation to the Brazilian population of African descent.
In an interview with Lusa in Lisbon, where he traveled to participate, on Thursday, in the ceremonies celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 25th of April on behalf of the Brazilian President, Mauro Vieira stressed that it is not his responsibility to comment on the statements of a head of state , but recalled, by the way, that Brazil has “a reparation policy” towards the “Brazilian population of Afro-descendants”, who represent more than 50% of the Brazilian population.
Asked to comment on Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s statements, at a dinner with the Foreign Press Association, on Wednesday, the minister stated:
“I can only say that Brazil internally has a reparation policy for the Brazilian population of Afro-descendants. We have affirmative policies that support them in the most diverse circumstances.”
Mauro Vieira stated, however, that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s statements are a matter of “Portuguese internal politics” and that he cannot and should not comment on the statements of “a head of state”.
“We have to recover debt owed to the Afro-descendant population”
As examples of support given to this majority population, the minister pointed to support for entry into university and in all social areas and scholarships to prepare for university exams for diplomatic career exams.
“So, for the Brazilian Government, and for President Lula [Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, atual chefe de Estado do Brasil] As I said, we have to redeem this debt with the Brazilian population of African descent”, highlighted Mauro Vieira.
Brazilian minister calls for “concrete actions”
The Brazilian Minister of Racial Equality had already asked this Wednesday, the day on which Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s statements were made public, for “concrete actions” on the part of Portugal following the “important and forceful” statement by the Portuguese head of state , suggesting the payment of reparations for colonial-era crimes.
“This statement is really very important and powerful”said Anielle Franco to the Brazilian portal G1, referring to statements by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in which he recognized Portugal’s responsibilities for crimes committed during the colonial era, suggesting the payment of reparations for past mistakes.
“For the first time we are having a debate of this dimension at an international level”stressed the Brazilian minister, sister of former councilor Marielle Franco, murdered in 2018, adding that such statements are “the fruit of centuries of demands from the black population”.
Anielle Franco also added that her team was already “in contact with the Portuguese Government to discuss how to think about these actions and from now on what steps will be taken”.
What did Marcelo say?
During a dinner, on Tuesday, with foreign correspondents in Portugal, the Portuguese President of the Republic stated that Portugal “has to pay the costs”.
“Are there actions that were not punished and those responsible were not arrested? Are there assets that were looted and were not returned? Let’s see how we can repair this”, said Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
At the event, Rebelo de Sousa said that Portugal “takes full responsibility” for the mistakes of the past and remembers that these crimes, including colonial massacres, had costs.
A year ago, in the welcoming session for Brazilian President Lula da Silva, which preceded the solemn session commemorating the 49th anniversary of the 25th of April in the Assembly of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa argued that Portugal owed an apology, but Above all, he had to take full responsibility for exploitation and slavery in the colonial period.
With Lusa
Tags: Brazilian minister comment Marcelos words defends colonial reparation policy
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