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The President of the Republic stated his congratulations with UNESCO’s decision of designating Fado as an Intangible Human Cultural Heritage.

In a message regarding the decision taken by the UNESCO International Committee, in a meeting held in Bali, Indonesia, the President congratulated all those who had been involved in the candidacy of Fado for this international recognition.

Following is the text of the message addressed by President Aníbal Cavaco Silva:

“It was with the deepest satisfaction that I received the news of the decision, taken at the VI Meeting of the UNESCO International Committee, to include Fado in the representative list of Intangible Human Cultural Heritage.

This recognition is a matter of pride for all Portuguese: from this moment on, Fado is recognized as a Heritage of the whole of Humanity, an inestimable value at the current time and an important cultural heritage for future generations.

I want to congratulate all of those who, more directly, were involved in the preparation, development and dissemination of this candidacy. Their success is also the success of all who, throughout more than one hundred years, lived, worked, composed and sang Fado. Fado singers, poets, musicians, composers, researchers and all who contributed to make Fado a universal melody deserve being congratulated.

Aníbal Cavaco Silva