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On the occasion of Portugal Day I would like to address a special message to those Portuguese who live and work abroad.

Celebrating Portugal Day, which is also the Day of the Portuguese Communities, signifies reaffirming our roots, the Portuguese identity and the ambition to turn Portugal into a more developed, more just country, respected and credible throughout Europe and the world.

On June 10th, also known as the Day of Camões, we celebrate the Portuguese language as the foundation of the unity of the Portuguese nation, of the Portuguese resident in Portugal and of her communities scattered throughout the world. I would therefore take this opportunity to send a very special greeting to the other countries whose official language is Portuguese. A special greeting to the martyred peoples of East Timor, to whom I extend the solidarity of the people of Portugal.

Portugal is duty bound to do all it can to support the Portuguese communities and their descendants, strengthening the ties that unite them with Portugal. We must focus strongly on developing a more ambitious, dynamic policy for the Portuguese language, recognising all its strategic value in reinforcing our projection in the world.

On the other hand, Portugal needs to gain a better understanding of the talent and prestige that the Portuguese and Portuguese descendants enjoy in those societies of which they have become a part and to make use of their knowledge, experience and ease of contact. We should therefore pay tribute on Portugal Day to all those Portuguese who, in the four corners of the world, have distinguished themselves in the most varied sectors of activity.

In the first message that I address, as President of the Republic, to those Portuguese who live abroad, I want to emphasise their extraordinary role as true ambassadors of Portugal, the first guarantors of the defence and affirmation of Lusitanian culture beyond our borders.

On this Day of Portugal and of the Communities, I also want to address a word of solidarity and encouragement to all those who, for various circumstances, feel excluded and are experiencing difficulties in their country of adoption.

There are still many Portuguese, youths in particular, who seek opportunities abroad, just as nationals of other countries hope to realise their projects and ambitions in Portugal. For them all our answer can only lie in additional development efforts, in increasing the competitiveness of our economy, in a constant, tenacious fight against inequalities, for the promotion of quality of life and social inclusion.

I would also like to send a word of solidarity and support to those Portuguese who live and work in parts of the world of greater instability, sometimes experiencing difficult times.

As President of the Republic, I shall do everything possible to promote and support close approach between Portugal and her communities scattered across the various continents, many of which I have had the opportunity, in the past, to get to know very well. I want to contribute to the success of Portugal and of the Portuguese, and I know full well that this effort will be all the easier if we are united and closer to each other.

Portugal’s policy of affirmation in the world implies divulging our language and our historic values, strengthening the civic and political involvement of the Portuguese of the Diaspora, accompanying their social problems, enhancing success stories in the most varies field and improving the instruments of political and administrative links with the communities.

The symbolism of commemorating Portugal Day as a veritable Day of the Portuguese Diaspora will be substantially strengthened if it actively involves the Portuguese communities and their representative organisations.

Therefore, I issue a challenge here, a challenge to public and private entities and to the associations linked to the Portuguese communities, to ensure that henceforth the celebration of June 10th may include a number of events that will ensure the warranted visibility to and disclosure of subjects linked to the Portuguese and their descendants around the world. Greater mutual knowledge will undoubtedly be a way to come closer to each other. This challenge also applies to entities involved in spreading abroad the Portuguese language and culture. On recognising the right of the children and grandchildren of her emigrants to Portuguese nationality, Portugal is also undertaking to provide them with the means to learn her language and to access her culture.

Portuguese is a factor of the utmost importance in the communication and enhancement of the country. Our language should therefore be divulged and taught to all those foreigners who take an interest in it, either at our universities or through Portuguese language courses in their own countries.

The Day of Camões is a magnificent occasion to reaffirm our responsibilities in this field and to underline the importance of permanent enhancement of the role of our language and culture and of the actions of the Portuguese communities around the world.

To all those Portuguese who live abroad I address my warmest greetings.

Portugal counts on you.