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

I thank you for your presence here and I wish you all a Happy New Year. I am also grateful for the words addressed to me by his Excellency, the Most Reverend Apostolic Nuncio in the name of the Diplomatic Corps accredited in Portugal. I ask that you transmit to your Heads of State my most sincere wishes for a peaceful and prosperous 2014.

Ambassadors,

The beginning of each year is always a suitable moment to take stock of the year that has ended. 2013 was a difficult and demanding year and, unfortunately for some, a time of dramatic developments. I think particularly of Syria and of the countries beset by natural disasters, but also by the economic and financial crisis, the consequences of which, despite the improvement registered in some indicators, continue to be felt.

As you were able to witness, 2013 was not an easy year for Portugal. We pursued the rigorous programme of economic and financial adjustment agreed with the international institutions in 2011. We have honoured the commitments we took on, despite the still adverse external economic context. Heavy sacrifices continued to be demanded of the Portuguese, who revealed great courage and responsibility.

Notwithstanding the difficulties, this was a year in which the Portuguese economy registered some positive signs, which allow us to face 2014 with greater hope. Portugal emerged from the recession in which it had been plunged since 2010. National production rose in the second and third quarters of 2013 and some reduction in unemployment was recorded. Exports continued to register a positive performance, as a result of the capacity to adapt shown by Portuguese companies, including through the establishment of partnerships in your countries.

Reinforcing the climate of confidence and consolidating the increasingly apparent signs of economic recovery will be a national priority in the year that has just begun. Economic growth is the key to counteracting the restrictions to which the country has been subject and to ensuring a sustainable course for public finances.

Ambassadors,

2013 was, yet again, a year of great challenges at the European level.

We made progress in the field of creating a genuine Economic and Monetary Union, and took important steps to improve its architecture. It is fundamental that the Banking Union contributes to breaking the link between banking risk and sovereign risk, as well as to combating the persistent fragmentation of the Euro Zone’s financial markets. Ambitious commitments are needed. A Single Resolution Mechanism capable of acting in a speedy and efficient way, is essential for the Euro Zone and Europe to be well prepared to deal with the challenges of the present and future.

Throughout the last year, Portugal has supported strengthening the coordination of economic policies and instruments of governance within the framework of deepening the Economic and Monetary Union. We continue to see ourselves as an active and responsible partner in the process of integration.

In 2013 the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 was approved. The Common Agricultural Policy package was also adopted. There were advances in the development of the internal market. I would emphasize in this context, the need to establish a genuine internal energy market. Commercial policy has taken on a growing importance and the negotiations now under way with the USA, in the framework of a Transatlantic Partnership in Trade and Investment, should be underlined.
In recent years, the increase in migrant pressures at European borders, particularly from the south and southwest, has exposed the need for the Union to find a common response to the growing and complex challenge of immigration.

Weak economic growth and dramatic unemployment numbers at a European level constitute two of the biggest problems to which the European Union has not yet found an effective response. I had the opportunity to raise these issues during the visit I made to the European Institutions in June of last year.

2014 will necessarily be a year in which there can be no reduction in the joint effort toward creating an European Union based on more cohesion and solidarity. We should continue to strive for more equitable growth in the Euro zone, which avoids increasing the adjustment costs of countries with greater difficulties. Growth and employment should remain the priorities of our action.

2014 will also be a year of elections for the European Parliament, which will take place in a very particular context and will constitute a test for the mobilisation of its citizens. It is important that these elections allow a clear debate on the important questions in the European agenda and contribute to a renewal of its citizens’ confidence in our common project.

Ambassadors,

In 2013, in the context of my external agenda, I undertook some trips abroad. These visits provided, in particular, opportunities to conclude bilateral agreements in different areas, to stage cultural events and above all, to encourage business partnerships and contacts. The growing internationalisation of Portuguese companies and the awakening of fresh interest in foreign investment in Portugal have been obvious.

Continuing along the path of closer and more diversified relations with Latin America, I travelled to Colombia and Peru. I also travelled to Panama, to head the Portuguese delegation to the 24th Ibero-American Summit. A clear sign of our strengthened relations with this region was the fact that Portugal obtained observer status in the Pacific Alliance.

I also undertook a State visit to Sweden, which turned out to be extremely welcoming and productive. I travelled to Krakow to participate in the meeting of the Arraiolos Group, an opportunity for informal discussions between Heads of State on subjects of particular importance from the European and International agenda. The organisation of this meeting will fall to Portugal in 2014.

The year 2013 was marked by the death of Nelson Mandela, a major figure in South Africa and in world history. For me it was a privilege to be present, representing Portugal, with many of the Heads of State of the countries represented here, in the evocation of the memory and universal legacy of Mandela.

From the past year, I certainly hold dear the memory of visits to Portugal of Heads of State and other political representatives of some of the countries that Your Excellencies represent.

As it occurred symbolically on the Day of Portugal, of Camões, and of the Portuguese Communities, allow me to begin by mentioning the visit to Portugal of the President of Brazil and the holding of the 21st Portugal-Brazil Summit. One more step amongst many that can still be made to harness the enormous potential that the fraternal relations between Portugal and Brazil represent.

I also recall the visits of the Presidents of East Timor, of Turkey, of Panama, and of Latvia.

In the multilateral context, and reiterating the central role of the United Nations within the international system, I would like to thank you for the support and confidence of the majority of your countries, which have enabled Portugal to be elected to the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO and the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

Relations with the Arab world, whether in the Maghreb, or the Middle East, have become consolidated as a strategic priority of Portuguese foreign policy. In the Mediterranean area, we assumed the co-Presidency of the 5+5 Dialogue and simultaneously the Presidency of the 5+5 Defence Initiative.

In 2014 we will continue to work towards our successful election to the Human Rights Council. I thank those who have already shown their support, and entrusted us with their vote, and hope that to these, others will join.

It is also our intention to continue monitoring with particular attention the issues of the Law of the Sea and Oceans, specifically bearing in mind the proposal to extend the Continental Shelf beyond 200 nautical miles.

We shall, at the same time, maintain our presence in various peace operations and missions, whether under the auspices of the UN, or in the context of the EU.

In 2014 the 4th EU-Africa Summit will be held. We hope that the Summit will be a success and that the EU-Africa Joint Strategy, approved in Lisbon, will continue to structure the political relationship between these two geo-political blocs.

The Millennium Development Goals have constituted a central direction of Portuguese cooperation. An important part of the aid granted in this context has been directed to fundamental sectors, such as health and education. Transversally, Portugal has also given priority to strengthening governance. The fight for peace, security and stability is intimately associated with social and economic progress.

Today, the path of development in Africa lies, above all, in the enormous human and economic potential of its countries. The pledge of Portuguese companies to Africa continues to be apparent, both within and outside the Portuguese language zones. The Official Portuguese-Speaking African Countries (PALOP), remain as privileged partners, and have, in the past year, strengthened their position within the framework of Portuguese international trade.

Founded on historic roots and built on solid bonds of friendship and cooperation, the relations existing between Portugal and the PALOP countries are truly special. For this reason, we follow closely developments in these sister countries.

In the speech that I made here last year, I had the opportunity to mention the troubling question of Guinea Bissau, which unfortunately has persisted. Our relations with the country continue to be conditioned by the consequences of the coup of the 12th of April 2012. We have maintained uninterrupted humanitarian aid for the people of Guinea and close collaboration with the United Nations, the European Union, and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), as well as the African Union and ECOWAS. It is essential that the political situation be normalised, with a return to peace and the re-establishment of constitutional order, with the holding of free and fair elections, and the subordination of military power to democratic civilian rule.

We have also followed with deep concern, the interminable conflict in Syria. The number of victims, displaced persons and refugees has made this conflict one of the most serious humanitarian disasters of our time. It is thus urgent that the international community pursues its efforts towards reaching a lasting peace, based on a political solution.

The year of 2013 was marked, on the other hand, by an agreement reached regarding the Iranian Nuclear Programme, and the next stages in this process are expectantly awaited, with a view to a definitive and comprehensive agreement.

In 2013 we pursued closer relations with the countries of the Persian Gulf, primarily through visits by political officials and trade missions. We intend to continue on this path in 2014.

In the past year we continued to celebrate the first contacts between Portuguese and various Asian regions, whose marks have endured to the present day. 2013 is the 500th anniversary of the first contacts with the Chinese people and the 470th anniversary of the arrival of the Portuguese in Japan. They are historic anchors of affinity and understanding that should be capitalised on, for more dynamic cultural and economic relations. From a political point of view, the desire to strengthen relations with our Asian partners remains firm.

In 2014, for the first time, the Summit of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries will come to Asia. I reiterate my determination to contribute to the success of the Dili Summit, which has all the potential to propel the organisation – its values and its language – to new levels of international recognition.

Allow me to leave you with another word on a question that, since the beginning of my terms of office, has merited my constant attention: the Portuguese Diaspora. There are today around 5 million Portuguese and Portuguese descendants who live and work abroad. In the last year, I visited some of these Communities. In all of them I could see they were integrated in the societies of the countries that had welcomed them, but also that they wished to preserve their connection to Portugal, and to value Portuguese culture and language.

Ambassadors,

This is a crucial year for Portugal. As you know, in mid 2014 the Economic and Financial Assistance Programme will come to an end. Although we are still several months from this objective, there are reasons for us to believe that we will successfully conclude this Programme. It will indeed be a decisive moment for our country.

Ambassadors,

I value the strengthening of the relationships between Portugal and the countries that Your Excellencies represent. The interdependency between nations and the global nature of many of the challenges of our time, only reinforce the importance of deepening the dialogue and cooperation between our peoples and countries.

I conclude by wishing you once again a peaceful and prosperous 2014.

Thank you very much.