The President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Humaro Sissoko Embalo, said this Monday that he respects the opinion of his Portuguese counterpart, but did not comment on Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s proposal for reparations to former colonies.
“I don’t want to comment on the statement of another head of state,” he responded to Lusa’s question about the statements made in the last few days by the President of the Portuguese Republic.
Marcelo said Portugal must lead the way in accepting and addressing the consequences of colonialism, and suggested debt forgiveness, cooperation and financing as examples.
The President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Humaro Sissoko Embalo, was in Portugal for the official celebrations on April 25 and added that he would be with Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa again “the day after tomorrow in Cape Verde” (in a ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of the closure of the Tarrafal concentration camp).
“Marcelo is a close friend, my friend,” he said, repeating that the issue concerning the former colonies “is the opinion” of the Portuguese president, whom he respects.
“This is his opinion, which I respect, but I wanted to defend myself regarding this statement. I do not want to comment on the statement of another head of state,” he said.
The Guinean President spoke on the sidelines of a visit to a new drug warehouse in Bissau, the result of a five million dollar (5.6 million euro) investment from the World Fund, managed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). .
The facility is located in the former military hospital 03 de Agosto in the capital of the country and will improve the capacity and storage conditions of medicines, namely preserving some more sensitive medicines such as vaccines.