Welcome to the Official page of the Presidency of the Portuguese Republic

Honourable Ambassador,
Honourable President of the House of Portugal, Commander Carlos Martins
Honourable Councillor of the Portuguese Communities, Mr. Luis Panasco


I firstly wish to greet all those who are here today, in this reception to the Portuguese Community and persons of Portuguese lineage, and sincerely thank them for being present.

I equally wish to thank the Portuguese Ambassador, the Councillor for the Portuguese Communities and the President of the House of Portugal for all they have done to enable me, during my sojourn in Montevideo, to share a few moments with this Community, which, well away from Portugal, endeavours to maintain alive the Portuguese spirit.

I have already stated, in several occasions that, whilst in my tenure as President of the Republic, I shall do all that is possible to promote and support the approach between Portugal and its Communities spread over the five Continents.

In this visit to Uruguay to take part in the Iberian American Summit Meeting, I especially wanted to spend some time with you all, in order to reassert how Portugal cherishes and values its emigrants and persons of Portuguese lineage.

It is pleasing to ascertain how this community has assimilated in the Uruguayan society, contributing with its efforts to the development of this Country, a good friend of Portugal. A substantial and respected community that greatly honours its Lusitanian roots.

As I endeavour in my tenure as President to always remember your Diaspora, I leave you with a challenge: do not forget Portugal, your roots, the great Portuguese family. The future of Portugal is facing serious challenges, and the Country is in need of you.

But remembering Portugal is also preserving and disseminating Portuguese culture and language. Your contribution is inestimable in this effort of projecting Portugal in the World. It is fundamental that events and initiatives be promoted to make known our culture, our History, our popular Heritage. This House of Portugal has – and I am certain will continue to have – a unique role in this challenge that I am placing before you. And because I myself am also answering this challenge, I will visit the Sacramento Colony tomorrow, contributing to the dissemination of the historical presence of Portugal in Uruguay, which dates from 1680, adding value to the heritage we have left here and which today is a World Heritage.

The pride of being Portuguese or of Portuguese lineage must be reflected in the interest and in the promotion of our language. We have an enormous joint responsibility in this field. I am certain that all of you will take advantage of the early arrival in Montevideo of a Reader in Portuguese, to value and disseminate the language of Camões which, in the last centuries, we spread to the four corners of the earth.

But we will only be able to project Portugal if we can adapt to the passage of time. We must be aware how to captivate the new generations, those with Portuguese lineage, to what is Portuguese. Without that we risk losing much of what was built by those who got here earlier.

I assure you that Portugal will always endeavour to be near to you and to all those that, throughout the world, represent us and bring us to the fore.

To all of you, my very best thanks.