Your Reverend Excellency the Apostolic Nuncio
Ambassadors and Ambassadresses,
Heads of Mission,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I begin by thanking you for your presence here today and to wish you all, your families and your countries, a happy and prosperous 2011.

I would also like to express my sincere recognition for the greetings that His Reverend Excellency the Apostolic Nuncio addressed me, in his quality as Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps, and for his kind words, that I much appreciated.

Portugal does no forget the memorable Visit of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, which so vividly marked the past year. At a time of grievous challenges, His message of evenness and hope remains indelibly in the hearts of the Portuguese.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In 2010, Portugal celebrated the centenary of the establishment of the Republic and the 25 years of its adhesion to the then European Economic Community, two happenings with determining implications in the Country’s History and for its international positioning.

It was a particularly intense year for Portuguese external policy, with very significant results in several fronts.

It was Portugal’s turn to welcome one of the most relevant Summits of the Atlantic Alliance. From now on, Lisbon will be connected with the definition of the most important features that will guide the future actions of the Alliance, including its relationship with other countries, such as Russia, and with other Organizations, particularly with the European Union.

It was also during this last year that the Portuguese Presidency of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) terminated, this office having been taken up by Angola.

Results reached in the last few years and the Conclusions of the Luanda Summit confirm the notable path treaded by CPLP in a relatively short period of time. I am certain that, under the guidance of the Angolan Presidency, new steps will be taken for the benefit of the assertion of CPLP in the international stage and for the growing relevance of the Portuguese language.

It was also in 2010, that Portugal surrendered to Argentina the Presidency of the Iberian American Summit. We have reason to be extremely pleased with the progress reached by the Iberian American Summit in achieving cooperation amongst its members, notwithstanding the natural differences in their positioning. A dynamic situation that will continue, I am certain, during the Argentinean Presidency.

The year that ended was, equally, that in which Portugal was elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, for the 2011-2013 two year period.

In the address I delivered to you, in January 2010, I had the opportunity to appeal for your countries’ support for our candidacy. Now is the time to thank you for the confidence shown that was reflected on the voting attained by Portugal, and to assure you that we will do all in our power to rise to the responsibilities this office comprises, at a time when the international agenda is faced with unbounded factors of uncertainty.

Uncertainty which is not foreign to the European Union, called on, throughout 2010, to prove its cohesion, solidarity and determination in the answer to the effects of the crisis and to the threats to the Economic and Monetary Union.

Ambassadors and Heads of Mission,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is inevitable that uncertainty asserts itself as the symbol of a time when happenings succeed each other at a rhythm and a scale that turns into temerity the greater part of forecasting exercises.

In the face of this reality, it is more than ever necessary that we attend to the evidence of some of the unchanging circumstances of which History offers us many instances, in order that we do not add the uncertainty of what we already have to deal with to situations that we should have cautioned.

One of these is the occurrence of economic, social and political disturbances related with the access to and management of strategic resources, resources that natural limitations and the growth trend in demand make scarcer with each day that passes.

In my last year’s address I made clear my concern with the possibility that the economic and financial crisis could lead us to forget that, immediately before it, the World had to contend with the grievous effects of the price increases in fuels and raw materials. I called attention to the risks of a possible return to such a situation as soon as the first signs of an economic recovery led to an increase in demand, or as a result of conflicts that could prejudice supplies. I fear that the recent development of the international situation will not be such that will appease the spirits as to this concern. Rather the opposite.

Another trend that is being enhanced is the interdependency between peoples and countries, a result of the interpenetration of interests, of the global nature of many of the issues that we are facing, and of progresses in the means and ways of communication.

With this I do not mean that we should tread towards one only model of society in which, as if by magic, we could reexamine the extraordinarily diverse cultural and social development that characterizes international reality. What I believe unquestionable is that, more than ever, the different options of each one of our peoples and countries will be influenced and, also at times, determined by what may arrive from other areas.

There is no glory, and it will be so more than ever, in efforts to impose barriers on the effects of what is occurring in other countries and with other peoples.

Another constant factor of which History has produced many instances is the instability associated to feelings of injustice, exclusion or humiliation, to the absence of signs of hope, true seeds of revolution and conflict, be it in the intercourse among countries, be it in the relationship between governors and the governed.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The reading of the international current situation in the light of this evidence leads us to the conclusion that the peace, stability and economic and social progress that we all aim for enjoin the absolute need for cooperation and solidarity between States, in the management of resources, in the answer to threats and in the resolution of conflicts, and cannot be construed, on a solid base, without respect for the peoples’ will and for the dignity of nations.

These were, after all, the objectives and the ideals that inspired the project of European integration. A project in whose name war gave ground to unity, conflict to cooperation, exclusion to solidarity, nationalism to the sharing of sovereignty. It is necessary that we recall this, above all when the European Union finds itself faced with challenges that place at stake its essence, its cohesion and the solidarity among its members.

We live at a time when new balances are drawn on the international stage and in which new protagonists are called on to assume increased responsibilities. I am firmly convinced that this new reality requires a strong and cohesive European Union, capable to contribute towards the search for solutions for the great issues of our time, be those prevention of the occurrence of new economic, financial, food or energy crises, effects of climate change, fight against terrorism or promotion of disarmament. But this uncertain and volatile World also requires the success of the European Union as a reference for the building of peace and prosperity between peoples and nations.

This European Union will only become possible if, internally, it is able to continue being a factor of hope for its citizens and, externally, capable of asserting itself as promoter of peace, of economic and social progress, of freedom, of respect for human rights and of stability.

Portugal has always fought for a European Union open to the World, including of course, its neighbouring countries.

Recent happenings in the southern coast of the Mediterranean have sharply emphasized this need.

It is certainly not the place of the European Union to be a substitute for the will of the peoples, or to dictate the path that they should tread. But it is fundamental that it is able to provide an active contribution to create conditions allowing that the assertion of that volition shall lead to the setting up of fairer, freer and more developed societies. It is its duty and in its interest.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thanking you once again for you presence, I want to assure you that Portugal will continue firmly to endeavour that its external actions, bilaterally and in the international organizations in which it belongs, to contribute towards the promotion of peace and stability, in a World that is fairer and with greater solidarity.

Thank you very much.