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Portuguese and Luso-descendants,
This year, the Celebrations of June 10 will be held in the city of Guarda.
A fortress city and a bastion of the Portuguese border, Guarda performed, since the birth of the nation, a fundamental role in the consolidation of our independence and in the preservation of the wholeness of the national territory. Guarda is thus a symbol of the indomitable will power of the Portuguese to remain a free and independent people.
June 10 is the date in which we celebrate Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Communities. It is also on this date that, with the large Portuguese family that lives and works abroad, we jointly reflect on our common past and the challenges that the future has reserved for us.
I thus very warmly address the Portuguese Diaspora and the Luso-descendants, those that are our major ambassadors in the countries where they live and work.
Your example, your determination and the way you represent our Country are a motive of pride and hope for Portugal.
This year, we also celebrate the 40th anniversary of April 25. I took advantage of this date to promote a reflection on the deepening of democratic citizenship, the culture of commitment and the importance of knowledge and innovation for the economic and social development of our country. These are themes that call upon the deepest expectations and ideals of April 25.
The Portuguese that live and work abroad also have the civic duty to project in the future the ambitions of that April 1974 and to keep alive this legacy of our collective history.
We travelled a long way together to build a free and democratic Portugal, a more developed country, with standards and expectations similar to those of the remaining States of the European Union.
In spite of the travelled path we continue unsatisfied. This is laudable. It is a sign that we do not resign, that our ambition is to live in a better country. In a country that attracts the return of those who went away, and where our children and grandchildren may enjoy the best levels of well-being.
I have met notable Portuguese in my visits abroad. Enterprising people, artists, entrepreneurs, managers and highly qualified scientists.
I visited Communities of Portuguese and Luso-descendants with an extraordinary vitality, which enjoy enormous prestige in their welcoming countries.
Thousands of Portuguese, although living far away, want to till and strengthen the bonds with their country of origin.
With great patriotism, the Portuguese Communities abroad have me aware, on many occasions, of their interest in contributing towards the Country’s development.
This is precisely my appeal to you.
On this day, which is also yours, I wish you all the best of personal and professional success.
Thank you for the much you are doing on behalf of our and your Country. Portugal is grateful.
© 2006-2016 Presidency of the Portuguese Republic
You have gained access to the records of the Official Site of the Presidency of the Republic from 9 March 2006 to 9 March 2016.
The contents available here were entered in the site during the 10 year period covering the two mandates of President of the Republic Aníbal Cavaco Silva.
