The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, addressed the diplomatic corps accredited in Portugal on Tuesday against ideas of superiority, the existence of chosen peoples or homelands and collective guilt.
“In one word: do not succumb to fundamentalism, which divides, which fragments, which creates insurmountable barriers to coexistence between people, societies and states,” the head of state summed up in an inviting tone at the National Palace. Ajuda in Lisbon in a speech in which he did not mention any region or any of the current conflicts.
At the ceremony for presenting New Year’s greetings from the diplomatic corps accredited in Portugal, which again was not attended by diplomats from the Russian Federation and Belarus, Israel, Palestine and Ukraine were represented.
In his 50th anniversary speech on April 25, 1974, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa spoke of the “successes and failures” of Portuguese colonization, with “exploitation, slavery, unjust and often oppressive imposition” to observe “how the power of this world is fleeting” .
“How illusory is the idea that there are chosen peoples or homelands and condemned peoples or homelands,” he considered in this regard, adding that “faith can be both inspiring and violent” and that “knowledge can be used for liberation to they were used to trample.”
Since the democratization process in Portugal, the President of the Republic has stated: “We have also learned that democracy only exists when the dignity of the individual is respected. That this dignity cannot have color, cannot have creed, cannot have race, cannot have superiority. origin, fortune, personal, family, class or territorial privileges.”
According to the head of state, Portugal has also learned “that living in freedom and building democracy is increasingly difficult, that it is a daily work, always unfinished and imperfect,” and implies a set of freedoms that “require less poverty, less inequality.” , fewer exceptions.”
At the end of his speech, listing the values of Portuguese foreign policy and politics, the head of state said that the dignity of a specific flesh and blood person cannot be “neglected” or “the violation of fundamental values must be tolerated.” and principles of international order.”
“Do not judge other peoples or states from the point of view of collective guilt, this is a wrong view that legitimizes armed action against innocent people in addition to violating universal legal values, which legitimizes inhumane terrorism against the entire society, and in this the most fragile, simply because they must pay for their rulers,” he continued.
Marcelo Rebelo de Souza criticized those who declare themselves democrats and advocate that “only the renunciation of democracy is effective in the fight against terror or autocracy.”
Appealing to diplomats accredited to Portugal not to succumb to fundamentalism, he said: “We know that in times of emotion rather than reason, this is a very difficult demand – aging institutions rather than their rejuvenation, encystations rather than discoveries, grievances , revenge, historical complexes, and not will, promises and stakes.”
“But we didn’t give up. We won’t give up. Over almost 900 years of life, we have seen so many sacrifices to the most important things due to haste, that it is important not to repeat this mistake, confusing the fleeting with the truly lasting,” the head of state added, wishing everyone, and especially respected people, 2024, “a more complete happiness than trials.”
Foreign Minister João Gomes Cravinho also attended the ceremony.
The Apostolic Nuncio to Portugal, Ivo Scapolo, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, addressed the President of the Republic, leaving a message of peace, justice, education, integrated development and respect for the environment.
“We would like to wish in a special way to the Portuguese people that the next elections will be an opportunity to further strengthen democracy in Portugal, that it will be a special moment to revive the spirit of responsibility, participation and love of the Portuguese for their country, which next April will celebrate 50 years of democracy.” , added the Ambassador of the Holy See to Portugal.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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