The Guinea-Bissau government has asked Portugal to open a consulate general in Guinea’s capital to speed up the visa process and address issues such as unjustified accusations, the foreign minister said on Wednesday.
This Wednesday, Carlos Pinto Pereira summed up Guinea-Bissau’s foreign policy, highlighting relations with Portugal and, in particular, the “important issue” of issuing visas to Guinean citizens.
The matter is “under consideration” between the two countries, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Communities, who said Guinea-Bissau is “awaiting a response from the Portuguese side regarding the possibility of opening a consulate general in Bissau.”
“We are already beginning to justify the existence of a consulate general, and not just consular services, as is happening now,” said the Guinean official.
Carlos Pinto Pereira believes that this will be “faster” and without the problems that arise now in obtaining visas, whether within the framework of the CPLP (Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries), or in a more general framework with Europe.
Among the problems encountered, he highlights the “famous work schedule that creates serious difficulties” for Guinean citizens.
The minister notes the need for the authorities of both countries to understand that “behind this planning process there is a situation that can even be called criminal.”
“It is no coincidence that there is a lot of talk about improper payments for appointments and access to the visa process. This can’t happen. Essentially, everyone has the right to apply for a visa, but is not required to pay unreasonably for that visa. “, he thought.
A Guinean government representative was referring to schemes to hoard appointment slots provided digitally and then charge improper amounts to those needing to apply for a visa.
“We have already informed the Portuguese authorities about this process, who initially denied the existence of payments, today they admit it, we are already reaching an understanding on this matter,” he said.
According to the minister, the intervention of the judicial police of both countries has already been requested and “as soon as there is no longer any doubt that irregular situations exist, they must be dealt with.”
Carlos Pinto Pereira also reported that Guinea-Bissau is considering returning “to the previous system where people waited in person for their place in line to gain access to a visa.”
“This situation does not seem to be welcome, but we must find one that will give people the opportunity to get a visa,” he said.
Regarding relations with Portugal, Guinean diplomats guarantee that “they are excellent” and believe that “this level of relations with the government will be maintained as a result of the Portuguese legislative elections” last Sunday.
“For our part, we will do everything possible to ensure that they are not only preserved, but also strengthened. We believe that we will not have any difficulties in this regard,” he said.
The minister also spoke of Guinea-Bissau’s “improved” relations with the United States of America, which he said would “materialize with the opening” of both countries’ embassies “later this year.”
“I am convinced that in the first half of this year we will have something new in this sense. Processes are underway both for the accreditation of the new Ambassador of Guinea-Bissau in Washington and here in Bissau. news coming soon,” he said.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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