The President of the Republic addressed a message of condolences to the Family of Engineer Armando Sevinate Pinto.

Following is the text of the message of condolences from President Cavaco Silva:

“Upon receiving the news of the passing away of Engineer Armando Sevinate Pinto, I address the bereaved Family my deeply felt condolences.

Armando Sevinate Pinto had a unique knowledge of the Portuguese rural environment, due to his academic work, to his proximity to the issues of the land and to his experience as Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries in the XV Constitutional Government.

He held office as a consultant to the Civil Department of the Presidency of the Republic and I then had the privilege to receive the full support of his knowledge and experience and, at the same time, witness his unusual traits: his patriotic sense of duty, his deep dedication to Portugal, his warm friendliness, his deep feeling for fraternal intimacy with his fellow beings.

Along with these professional and personal features he added the reticence of those who do not seek protagonism or public fame.

Armando Sevinate Pinto was, above all else, a largely eminent and deeply principled Portuguese, who loved his Country and his Family, and to whom I address a word of affection in this hour of pain for all of us.

Aníbal Cavaco Silva”