SEPTEMBER

19 IPRIS Lusophone Countries Bulletin MAY 2011

press support of Cuba and the Soviet times not even rhetorically. Even Angola Union, while UNITA aligned its for- though the country is part of regional eign policy with the anti-communist African organizations, its foreign pol- reopening the struggle, firstly with apartheid South icy priorities laid with the US, , then with the US and many and China, an orientation which en- African window other African countries. abled Angola to grow economically With the end of the civil war in 2002 and be consequently able to cast VASCO MARTINS and the death of Jonas Savimbi, UNI- the image of a powerful African po- Researcher, IPRIS TA became a normal political party – litical player. Indeed, after surpass- as opposed to an armed movement ing Nigeria in oil production, Angola The history of the foreign policy – while the Angolan government in rose to become the 6th country with achievements of Angola, although power was confronted with the task the highest GDP in Africa, while still often puzzling and remarkably far- of setting up a foreign policy system. holding one of the largest militaries reaching and active, has experienced Yet, due to UNITA’s extensive contacts in the continent, an impressive feat curious developments as of late. and immensely broad support base considering national reconstruction During the troubled times of the Cold in the African continent, the MPLA was initiated less than a decade ago. War, there was one main premise government – which had roughly Today, Angola enjoys a comfortable in international relations that most counted only on Cuba and the Soviet position in African affairs and has countries in conflict had to capital- Union for backing – was influenced its share of influence in world poli- ize on: if one was at civil war or im- by the civil war foreign policy culture tics, something most politicians and mersed in any kind of power strug- and mentally decided to look beyond analysts have yet to acknowledge. gle, it was necessary to choose a side Africa into other sources of support. Having reached such a stage, Angola between both blocks, be it the US or This time the much needed support began to provide support for other the Soviet Union. Although it was this was financial. This decision was also countries – instead of simply receiv- Cold War scenario that nurtured sev- a consequence of the lack of funding ing it –, especially to Guinea-, eral national revisionist movements opportunities Angola had not only in which despite being an African coun- – mainly spurred by communist ide- Africa but also with the international try should be considered through ologies – which consequently led to financial organizations. Having its in- the prism of Lusophone cooperation open conflict, such was the overall frastructure destroyed after roughly when examined under the umbrella modus operandi of the time. The 41 years of barely uninterrupted con- of Angolan foreign policy. Nonethe- same rationale was adopted by the flict, Angola had to search beyond less, Angola recently decided to re- Angolan MPLA government and its Africa for credit lines large enough open the African window, albeit with rival party and civil war enemy UNI- to fund its national reconstruction a different ambition. Joaquim Es- TA. Even if the roots of the conflict program, having found in China the pírito Santos, Director of African and cannot be attributed to the Cold War perfect ally for such an endeavor. Middle Eastern Affairs at the Angolan rivalries, it definitely played a role in Consequently, Angola’s official for- Ministry of External Relations, told enhancing its deadliness. Hence, the eign policy line since 2002 has never the press on the occasion of Angolan MPLA government sought the ex- become very African in its core, most National Assembly President Paulo IPRIS Lusophone Countries Bulletin | 2

Kassoma’s presence at the swearing vestment, one in which the country and integration endeavors with the in ceremony of Nigerian President is realistically able to capitalize po- remaining South American nations. Goodluck Jonathan on May 29th that litically and economically, as Ango- Indeed, despite being careful enough Angola was now seeking to solidify la’s reach is still not strong enough to avoid assuming an outspoken its relations with African countries. to influence political events in other leadership role of his fellow neigh- Such a statement by a high rank- parts of the globe. bors, former President Luiz Inácio ing political individual should be In general terms, Angola’s renewed ‘Lula’ da Silva never shied away from understood as a crucial change of stance is beneficial not only to the presenting Brazil’s insertion in the focus, especially considering Presi- country itself but to the entire Afri- surrounding region as an added to- dent José Eduardo dos Santos did can continent. Indeed, Africa can now ken of the country’s credentials in not mention any African state when officially trust in the mild but grow- an evolving international order. By describing Angola’s foreign policy ing support of a rapidly rising coun- showcasing Brazil’s peaceful influ- priorities in his State of the Nation try such as Angola, by bringing joint ence in the continent and its lasting speech in 2010. To be sure, very collaborations and most importantly, commitment towards a multitude little happens by chance in Angolan potential common political positions, of multilateral mechanisms, Brazil foreign policy, hence why Joaquim which might in the long term serve thus sought to present, and in a way Santos’ statement was pondered and to strengthen African unity in inter- substantiate, an image of a unified probably ‘signed’ by the President national affairs. However, this is not regional front engaged in a common himself, thus credibly contradicting to say that Angola will become one objective of mutual and equitable de- the message of the State of the Na- of the main representatives of Africa velopment. As stated in his inaugu- tion speech. in the world. Far from that, Angola is ration speech back in 2003, above all A new phase in Angolan foreign expected to continue to maintain and he aimed “to build a policy was opened, enabling its gov- deepen its relationships with other that would be politically stable, pros- ernment to reset the old MPLA and countries outside the continent, perous and united, based on demo- UNITA alliances celebrated during while nurturing new connections and cratic ideals and social justice”. the civil war while producing a blank friendships with African countries. Grand designs aside, it soon be- slate in the country’s foreign policy, For the next few years, the world came noticeable that Lula’s inten- capable of setting new tones for co- should expect no less than having to tions of reenergizing Brazil’s focus operation, albeit with certain speci- deal not only with Nigeria and South on the region at the beginning of his ficities and restraints (it should not Africa but also with Angola in a simi- first term were to be met with con- be expected to see Angola cooper- lar fashion, as sub-Saharan Africa siderable challenges from a number ating with countries which are still welcomes a third great power. of different origins. Not only were seen firmly behind UNITA or whose established institutional arrange- leaders supported Jonas Savim- ments, such as Mercosul, painfully bi’s party). Furthermore, this new lacking a decisive institutional push stance signals Angola’s readiness that could finally patch its inter- to officially assume its designated nal shortcomings but other players position in African affairs, by politi- also slowly began contesting Brazil’s cally reentering the continent and Dilma’s Brazil nearby ‘benign influence’, either by taking part in its challenges, defeats resenting Brazil’s economic clout and victories. Several events might like Argentina or by providing new explain this new pan-African align- and South poles of political-ideological attrac- ment. Perhaps a consequence of tion like Venezuela. In other words, assuming SADC’s presidency, of the America: much heavy-lifting work awaited the strong condemnation the Angolan Brazilian authorities in order to suc- government has produced towards a lackluster cessfully achieve their desired vision NATO’s intervention in Libya or sim- for South America. ply because a closer relationship start? Eight years later, the creation of Un- with Nigeria – much like that with asul and the increased pace of inter- South Africa – would follow Angola’s PEDRO SEABRA regional exchanges, for example, objective of becoming closer to Afri- Researcher, IPRIS undoubtedly comprised some sig- can powers, hence raising its status nificant achievements. But neverthe- by categorization and association. Throughout the past decade, Brazil’s less, as Lula exited office, it was im- Nevertheless, much like the US, rise in the international sphere has possible to deny that – possibly as an Europe and China, Angola sees in been consistently heralded as be- inherent consequence of extensive Africa another stage of political in- ing sustained by the country’s roots excursions into international affairs IPRIS Lusophone Countries Bulletin | 3

and the worldwide fora –, Brazil’s However, against all odds, develop- fairs included. As evidence of this ap- focus on South America appeared to ments (or lack thereof) in the fol- proach, in the past five months Patri- have partially lost its strength along lowing months have come to provide ota has already taken upon himself the way, thus displaying some stiff- a stark contrast with such designs, to meet with his counterparts from ness and inability to properly tackle especially reflected by Dilma’s mea- Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Co- some of the challenges in the region, ger calendar of visits abroad. In all lombia, Venezuela, Bolivia and Chile. such as the increase of unofficial fairness, changing circumstances Meanwhile, on May 30th, Dilma finally trade bickering. have mostly dictated this lackluster paid a thrice-rescheduled visit to In that sense, expectations abounded dynamic: Dilma’s attendance of the Uruguay and on June 6th welcomed around Dilma Rousseff’s own take on III Summit of South American-Arab Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez this conundrum, even if the options countries in Lima, Peru on Febru- in Brasília. Furthermore, in late at the table were not, in their es- ary 13th-16th – where she would have June, she is also scheduled to at- sence, that intricate. Indeed, for all met with every regional peer at once tend a yet-to be confirmed Mercosul purposes, from a political, economic for the first time – was called off be- Heads of State Summit. and commercial point of view, South cause of unrest in Northern Africa, With these growing contacts in mind, America was bound to remain a pri- and likewise her visit to Paraguay and as regional geopolitics inevita- ority for Brazil and therefore such an on May 15th had to be postponed due bly dictate, with many more probably official status was never expected to to personal illness. Subsequently, coming in the days ahead, it would change under a new leadership. The one could then say that her plans to be at least premature to jump on the only real question remaining would quickly become more personally in- bandwagon of lashing Dilma’s per- be how high it would figure in the volved in regional affairs were dealt formance in her first months in of- new government’s foreign policy. unexpected, albeit minor, blows. fice. But as South America begins to Accordingly, Dilma’s own inaugura- Still, amid all this, crude comparisons long for the level of personal com- tion speech began to cast some light tend to surface easily. For example, af- mitment and interest that frequently on this issue, when she declared that ter eight months in office Lula had al- accompanied Lula’s hyperactive di- “we can transform our region into ready met and/or received every South plomacy, one cannot fail to wonder if an essential component of the newly American Head of State and in two Dilma will ever succeed in providing a multipolar world, giving increas- years’ time, he had visited every coun- similar/alternative venue of personal ing consistency to the existence of try in the region. Such a raw parallel, engagement with the region. In that Mercosul and Unasul”. Moreover, and more importantly the focus on the sense, Brazil’s aspirations towards newly-appointed Foreign Minister symbolism of foreign travel, would not South America will very much depend Antônio Patriota would be even more even be in question if it were not, of on how well Dilma juggles Lula’s gov- straightforward when stating that course, for the legacy of Lula’s trade- erning legacy and how well she will “each neighbor in South America mark presidential diplomacy. Indeed, be able to set her own terms for both will receive a growingly differenti- the reliance on his personal charisma the conduction of the country’s for- ated attention” in a bid to transform and efforts was clearly exemplified by eign policy in the continent and the the region into “a space of econom- the 470 days in official visits – 150 of defense of nearby Brazilian interests. ic, physical and human integration which to South American countries – where dialogue and political concert that he spent abroad during his eight are in charge of preserving peace and years in office, an absolute record democracy”. Afterwards, during Bra- among all of his predecessors. For zil’s Diplomat Day celebrations, Dilma what it was worth, even though it im- would then take the opportunity to un- plied a level of worrisome unpredict- equivocally reaffirm: “the countries of ably, Lula’s own handling of foreign our continent have become valuable policy issues ended up characterizing political and economic partners in Brazil’s international insertion in the Brazil, and we know that the destinies world at large. of South America, the fate of each Be as it may, Dilma has already made one of these countries and ours, are it perfectly clear that in many aspects indelibly linked”. The official rhetoric and for better or for worse, she is not was therefore reasonably candid and Lula and will not insist on mimicking the choice of Argentina as her first his foreign policy style. Therefore, as foreign trip on January 31st, seemed initially expected, she will become to corroborate the early assessment increasingly comfortable in delegat- that Brazil was resolute in engaging ing the main foreign policy ‘chores’ more actively with the region. to the Itamaraty, South American af- IPRIS Lusophone Countries Bulletin | 4

Strengthening ’s soft diplomacy

KEN WESTMORELAND Tetum and Portuguese translator, London

The Al-Jazeera news channels in Qatar, in both Arabic dependence with Saudi backers. Many of the journalists and English, are arguably the best example of a televi- who worked on the BBC channel were later involved in sion service being used as ‘soft diplomacy’ by a small establishing the Al-Jazeera news channel in Qatar.2 state. The advantage of Al-Jazeera’s services is that they Similarly, the French-language channel TV5Monde, are not indentified with a specific country or government, which carries programming from France, Canada, Swit- certainly outside the Arabic-speaking world. Could Por- zerland and Belgium, not only subtitles many of its pro- tugal learn from this? grams in Western languages, but now Asian ones as well, Like many other countries in Europe and elsewhere, Por- with Vietnamese being the latest to be added.3 tugal has international television and radio services, RTP Australia has used a mixture of government funding and Internacional and RDP Internacional, but their target au- advertising for the Australia Network, operated by the dience has been the diaspora, rather than a wider inter- public broadcaster, the ABC. This is on a tendered basis, national audience. Despite having been available in the rather than on the same basis as Radio Australia, and the Americas and Asia since the 1990s, it was only in 2005 ABC faces a competitive threat from Rupert Murdoch’s that RTP Internacional’s broadcasts to these regions Sky News, which has expressed an interest in bidding to were time-shifted, rather than broadcast live from Lis- operate the service. Assuming that it continues to oper- bon. The only RTP services targeted at non-Portuguese ate this service, the ABC has plans to expand the Aus- audiences overseas have been RTP África and RDP Áfri- tralia Network into other regions of the world,4 including ca, which are for the five Lusophone African countries, Latin America, despite not currently having radio servic- retransmitted locally on terrestrial television and FM ra- es in either Spanish or Portuguese. dio, as well as via satellite. An interesting example of cultural and linguistic diplo- Although an international television channel jointly oper- macy through broadcasting has come not from a public ated by CPLP members has been proposed, which could broadcaster, but a commercial one. Turkey’s Kanal D target a wider audience outside the Portuguese-speak- broadcasts a channel to Romania, with all its Turkish pro- ing world,1 it remains to be seen if such a channel will gramming in the original language with subtitles, rather ever be established. than dubbed. This is partly because, as in Portugal, sub- By contrast, the BBC’s English-language international titling in Romania is preferred over dubbing, but it has television channels, such as BBC World News, have al- the advantage of providing the Turkish language and cul- ways been commercially funded through subscription ture with a higher profile in countries where people have and advertising, owing to a decision by the Thatcher had little exposure to it. By contrast, the country’s state government not to fund the BBC World Service’s ex- broadcaster, TRT, targets its international broadcasts ei- pansion into television in the late 1980s. Consequently, ther at the Turkish diaspora, or at the Turkic nations of there is a greater commercial need for the BBC chan- Central Asia. nels to cater for local audiences, and satellite and cable It might be unrealistic for RTP to provide dedicated inter- operators, as illustrated by the subtitling of many pro- national radio services in other languages, like those of grams in local languages. the BBC or Radio Netherlands, let alone television ser- The British government does, however, fund the BBC’s television services in Arabic and Persian. In the 1990s, 2 Ian Richardson, “The failed dream that led to Al-Jazeera” (Press Gazette, 11 the BBC did operate an Arabic-language television news April 2003). service as a commercial joint venture, but this closed 3 “Vietnamese subtitles on TV5MONDE Asia channel” (Saigon Giai Phong, 5 April following disagreements over content and editorial in- 2011). 4 Mark Scott, “A Global ABC: Soft Diplomacy and the World of International Broadcasting” (Macquarie University, Bruce Allen Memorial Lecture 2009, 5 1 “TV CPLP pode alargar a países extra-lusofonia” (Lusa, 6 March 2007). November 2009). IPRIS Lusophone Countries Bulletin | 5

vices, such as those of France 24 and Deutsche Welle, Indonesian Telkom 1 satellite, which can be received as but it could provide some foreign language content on- far south as Darwin in Australia, and as far north as Ma- line, including audio and video. For example, RTP África cau. However, the potential use of this for soft diplomacy could draw upon the skills of French speakers in Guinea- by Timor Leste, never mind other CPLP countries, has Bissau or , and English speakers in Mozambique not been explored. Ironically, José Ramos-Horta identi- and South Africa, while a new ‘RTP Ásia’ service could fied the potential of satellite television as early as 1974, draw upon the skills of Indonesian speakers in Timor when he expressed concern to Australian officials that Leste, Chinese speakers in Macau, and Hindi or Eng- Indonesia’s TVRI could be used as a propaganda weapon lish speakers in Goa, thereby bringing the Portuguese- in the then Portuguese Timor.6 TVTL rebroadcasts pro- speaking world to wider re- grams from RTP and TV Glo- gional audiences. bo, which could be subtitled in The use of the RTP name It is a little bit ironic that, Indonesian or English, while for multinational Portu- RTL already carries radio pro- guese-language television despite their nuances, the grams in Indonesian. and radio services need first signs of switching The availability of Portu- not imply that the edito- guese-language television rial line was determined by alliances or policy programming subtitled in re- RTP itself, much less by the gionally important languages Portuguese government in adjustments in Sub- in the Asia Pacific region, as Lisbon. Increasingly, little well as online material in attention is given to what Saharan Africa, regarding these languages, would help acronyms now stand for. to overcome misconceptions TAP, for example, originally Libya’s regime change in about Timor Leste’s Por- stood for Transportes Aére- progress, took place in tuguese language policy in os Portugueses, but since Indonesia and Australia. In 1979, the airline has been West Africa. Gaddafi used addition, it would also dem- known as TAP Air Portugal, onstrate that Portugal’s in- and from 2005, simply as Libya’s financial resources volvement in Timor Leste is TAP Portugal. not motivated by ‘preening Just as RTP África draws to guarantee his policy chauvinism’ over language upon the resources of local and culture.7 broadcasters in Lusophone goals and his influence. While Brazil may expand the Africa, ‘RTP Ásia’ television West Africa was one of the coverage of TV Brasil Inter- and radio services could nacional worldwide, RTP draw upon the resources of regions in the continent that could still draw upon the pro- broadcasters in the region, gramming of other non-com- such as TdM in Macau and most benefited from his mercial Brazilian networks, RTTL in Timor Leste. In the such as TV Cultura. Similarly, case of India, where there policy guidelines. programming from Angola’s are no radio or television TPA Internacional could also broadcasts in Portuguese, even external services, RTP be made available to RTP outside Europe and Africa, should appoint its own correspondent, or use a freelance where it currently broadcasts its own channel. journalist who could also provide services for Lusa, which A dedicated CPLP television service appears to be unlike- does not have a correspondent in India either.5 ly, at least in the immediate future, but Portugal might TdM has established an international Portuguese-lan- be able to use this to its advantage, acting as a bridge guage television channel, with some programming in between the Lusophone world on the one hand, and the Chinese and English. This is available across the Asia Pa- increasingly important Asia Pacific region on the other. cific region via the AsiaSat 5 satellite, as well as on Hong Kong cable, with plans to expand into other parts of the 6 Wendy Way (ed.), Australia and the Indonesian incorporation of Portuguese Timor, world, despite the limited availability of locally produced 1974-1976, (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Melbourne University Portuguese-language content. Press, 2000), p 255. RTTL has become a regional broadcaster as a result of 7 Greg Sheridan, “Downhill since Habibie let go” (The Australian, 1 June 2006). its television and radio services being broadcast via the

5 Constantino Xavier, “Portugal and Goa in the 21st Century: Towards an Alliance of the Small” (Goanet, November 2008). IPRIS Lusophone Countries Bulletin | 6

Timeline of Events

tees that his country would support the 2012 23 May (Luanda): Angola elections in Angola. The Prime Minister of Australia sent special en- voy Neil Mules to Angola to meet with Minister 1 May (Luanda): 14 May (Luanda): of Foreign Affairs George Chicoty, and discuss A Libyan delegation headed by Secretary for Zimbabwean Defense Minister Emmerson the development of Australian relations with An- African Affairs Guma Amer met with President Mnangagwa visited Angola. This trip was gola. This effort was framed, according to Mules, José Eduardo dos Santos. framed in a recent diplomatic offensive by Rob- in a larger move by Canberra to deepen contacts ert Mugabe, who is trying to avoid international with Portuguese-speaking countries. 4 May (Luanda): isolation ahead of SADC’s summit. Mnangagwa Angolan National Assembly Speaker Paulo was received by Vice-President Fernando da 23-27 May (Jakarta): Kassoma defended the need for the Southern Piedade Dias dos Santos ‘Nandó’ and Foreign Angola was represented by Secretary of State African Development Community (SADC) to Affairs Minister George Chicoty. The Zimba- for Foreign Affairs, ambassador Manuel Au- create its own permanent Parliament, which bwean official publicly stated that the political gusto, in the 93rd Non-Aligned Countries Min- would replace the current SADC Parliamen- situation in his country is stable. isterial Summit. tary Forum. 16 May (Rome): 25-26 May (Addis Ababa): 10-15 May (London): Angolan ambassador to Italy Manuel Pacavira Angolan Foreign Affairs Minister George Chicoty An Angolan National Assembly delegation represented his country in the Global Gover- attended an extraordinary session of the African traveled to the United Kingdom to meet with nance and Security Council Reform confer- Union Assembly, where peace and security in the their counterparts at the initiation of British ence held in Rome. Pacavira defended the continent were discussed. Chicoty denounced Inter-parliamentary Group. Business ties, allocation of two permanent and five non-per- armed Western interventionism in Africa and agricultural opportunities and contacts with manent seats for Africa in the UNSC, which cited the examples of Ivory Coast and Libya. NGO’s were some of the activities developed should be chosen by the African Union. by the Angolan delegation. 29 May (Abuja): 16 May (Luanda): Angola’s National Assembly Speaker Paulo 11 May (London): Pierre Falcone, the French businessman who Kassoma represented President José Eduar- The UK Foreign Secretary William Hague was recently acquitted by a Paris Court in an do dos Santos in the swearing-in ceremony of made a statement to Parliament where he arms trafficking deal with Angola, was re- Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan. announced he would “add diplomatic staff” in ceived in an audience by President José Edu- the British Embassy in Luanda, among other ardo dos Santos, to whom he transmitted his posts. relief over the outcome of his case.

11-13 May (Luanda): 17-18 May (Luanda): UN Undersecretary-General Rebeca Gryns- President of Madagascar Andry Rajoelina paid Brazil pan visited Angola, where she held working a 24-hour visit to Angola, where he was re- meetings with Vice-President Fernando da ceived by President José Eduardo dos Santos. 1 May (Rome): Piedade Dias dos Santos ‘Nandó’ as well as Rajoelina asked for Angolan support for his Vice-President Michel Temer attended the be- other ministers. Grynspan is also associate country’s transition process and hoped the two atification ceremony of Pope John Paul II. administrator of the United Nations Develop- countries could re-launch diplomatic relations. ment Program and stated that the organiza- 2-3 May (Brasília): tion would strengthen and empower local 19-20 May (Windhoek): Foreign Minister of the former Yugoslav Re- government. Foreign Affairs Minister George Chicoty rep- public of Macedonia Antonio Milososki met resented Angola’s Head of State in the SADC’s with his Brazilian counterpart Antônio Pa- 12 May (Luanda): summit. Zimbabwe and Madagascar’s situation triota, to review bilateral relations and sign a The Japanese ambassador to Angola delivered topped the conference’s agenda. Angola will as- short-term visa waiver agreement. poliomyelitis vaccines, worth some US$4.7 sume the Community’s chair from next August. million, to the country’s health authorities. 3 May (Brasília): This move further signals Japan’s growing in- 22-23 May (Luanda): Foreign Minister Antônio Patriota welcomed terest in Angola. A delegation from China’s National People’s his Paraguayan counterpart Jorge Lara Castro Assembly, headed by chairman of its Standing to prepare President Dilma Rousseff’s upcom- 13 May (Luanda): Committee Wu Bangguo, visited Angola. Con- ing visit to Asunción on May 15th. US ambassador to Angola Christopher Mc- tacts were made with the Angolan counterpart Mullen met with UNITA leader Isaías Samaku- as well as with President José Eduardo dos 4-7 May (Brasília): va. The head of the main opposition party was Santos, with whom economic cooperation was German President Christian Wulff travelled to reassured by the US ambassador’s guaran- discussed. Brazil accompanied by a vast business entou- IPRIS Lusophone Countries Bulletin | 7

rage, seeking to deepen the Strategic Part- 16 May (Brasília): zation of the Americas (OAS) to readmit the nership between the two countries. Coopera- Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Dem- Central American nation into its fold. tion on science, technology and innovation as ing traveled to Brazil, where he co-chaired well as consultations on several international a meeting of the Economic and Trade Under 30 May (Montevideo): security issues were high on the agenda when Commission of the Brazilian-Chinese High- President Dilma Rousseff traveled to Uruguay Wulff met with President Dilma Rousseff. Level Coordination and Cooperation Com- where she met with her counterpart, José mission (COSBAN) alongside Foreign Minister Mujica. Global, regional and bilateral issues, 7-10 May (Brasília): Antônio Patriota and Minister of Development, including several infrastructure projects, were Ghana’s Vice-President John Dramani Maha- Industry and Foreign Trade, Fernando Piment- high on the agenda. ma visited Brazil accompanied by a significant el. The strengthening of the Strategic Partner- governmental entourage, seeking to review ship between Brazil and China, the execution 31 May-3 June (Brasília): bilateral cooperation and increase Brazilian of the 2010-2014 Joint Action Plan, and the President of the World Bank Group Robert B. investment on the ground. Mahama took the diversification of bilateral trade and reciprocal Zoellick visited Brazil to broaden the Bank’s opportunity to meet with Brazilian Vice-Presi- investment were high on the agenda. strategic partnership with the country in the dent Michel Temer. context of Brazil’s growing role in global is- 16-17 May (Moscow): sues and international development. To that 7-8 May (Cairo): Brazilian Vice-President Michel Temer lead end, Zoellick held meetings with President Foreign Minister Antônio Patriota traveled to his country’s delegation to the V Brazil-Russia Dilma Rousseff, Finance Minister Guido Man- Egypt where he met with his counterpart Nabil High Level Cooperation Commission, seeking tega and governors of several states. al-Araby, with Secretary-General of the Arab to assess the progress on the implementation League Amr Moussa, and with Minister for of the Strategic Partnership Action Plan and Planning and International Cooperation Fawza of the Technological Alliance established be- Aboul Naga. The reengagement of political con- tween the two countries, among other issues tacts, trade and bilateral cooperation and re- gional security issues were high on the agenda. 17 May (Brasília): Cape Verde Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeld paid 10 May (Brasília): an official visit to Brazil, where he met with 13 May (Praia): Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez postponed President Dilma Rousseff, seeking to assess After consulting with every political party, his visit to Brazil due to a medical condition. the current bilateral framework, joint coopera- President Pedro Pires scheduled the upcom- In return, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nico- tion projects and several pressing international ing presidential elections for August 7th. lás Maduro met with his Brazilian counterpart issues. Antônio Patriota, to assess the main issues of 16 May (Porto Novo): the bilateral and regional agenda. 19-20 May (Rome): In a meeting with ambassadors and represen- Foreign Minister Antônio Patriota traveled to tatives of international organizations in Cape 11 May (Brasília): Rome to lobby in favor of Brazilian José Grazia- Verde, Foreign Minister Jorge Borges declared After a lengthy process, Brazil’s Senate finally no da Silva for the position of Director-General that the Cape Verdean government wants to approved an increase of payments to Paraguay, of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). expand its transition period in a bid to become from the current US$120 million to US$360 Patriota also took this opportunity to meet with a Middle Income Country (MIC) by 2015, in or- million, for excess energy from the nation’s outgoing Director-General Jacques Diouf. der to ensure the “irreversibility” of the gains joint Itaipu hydroelectric project. made. 26 May (Brasília): 12 May (Brasília): Spanish Foreign Minister Trinidad Jiménez met 29 May (Abuja): The Brazilian government decided to apply with her Brazilian counterpart, Antônio Pa- Cape Verdean President of Parliament Basílio non-tariff trade barriers – such as tightening triota, seeking to review bilateral relations and Mosso Ramos and Foreign Minister Jorge Borg- license requirements – to imports of cars and increment trade ties as well as cooperation on es represented the country in the inauguration car parts, in a bid that will affect auto produc- education, culture, science and technology. of Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan. ers from Japan, South, Korea, Mexico and the United States but which is mostly understood 26-27 May (Buenos Aires): as retaliation against similar trade barriers Defense Minister Nelson Jobim attended the previously adopted by Argentina. official inauguration of the Defense Strategic Studies Center – CEED, the first permanent 15 May (Asunción): body in Unasul’s Defense Council. Afterwards, Guinea-Bissau Due to health issues, President Dilma Rous- Jobim also took part in a joint Defense Council seff did not travel to Paraguay and was in- meeting. 2 May (Dakar): stead represented in the commemoration of The World Bank’s Country Program Coordina- the country’s Independence Bicentennial by a 28 May (Tegucigalpa): tor for Guinea-Bissau, McDonald Benjamin, an- delegation headed by Senator José Sarney and President Dilma Rousseff’s Special Advisor nounced that the international body would lend Foreign Minister Antônio Patriota. Patriota took on International Affairs Marco Aurélio Garcia some US$17.5 million to the country to fund this opportunity to meet with his local counter- traveled to Honduras to witness former Presi- satellite monitoring and coastguard patrols to part Jorge Lara Castro, to examine the main is- dent Manuel Zelaya’s scheduled return to his curb illegal fishing, create three national parks sues in the bilateral and regional agenda. country as a pre-condition set by the Organi- and “the basis of tourism in the future”. IPRIS Lusophone Countries Bulletin | 8

4 May (Bissau): nounced that a US diplomat would be placed to fight drug trafficking. Saad required further In a Council of Ministers communiqué, Guin- in the Portuguese embassy in Bissau. The EU support to tackle the current situation. ea-Bissau’s government expressed its soli- intention is to reinforce cooperation be- darity with the Libyan people and considered tween Portugal, the US and Guinea-Bissau, 25 May (Washington): NATO’s actions in the country as “cruel and and eventually lead to the re-opening of the The IMF Board decided to disburse US$3.8 unacceptable”. American embassy in that country. million. According to the Fund, Guinea-Bissau accomplished the vast majority of the reforms 5 May (Luanda): 13 May (Bissau): stipulated by the international body, and as The Angolan government stated it would for- The head of the Judiciary Police resigned. Lucin- such was entitled to receive further support. give Guinea-Bissau’s debt in accordance with da Barbosa justified her decision due to the lack the decision made by the Paris Club of Credi- of support she felt in combating drug trafficking. 25 May (Bissau): tors. The total debt owed by Guinea-Bissau to Defense Minister Ocante da Silva announced Angola is estimated at some US$39 million. 16 May (Paris): that some 1300 military and police personnel Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Júnior made a would leave the state’s forces over the next 9 May (Bissau): stopover in Paris on his way to Timor Leste. five years. The Minister also declared that the A business delegation from the United Arab government would create a retirement fund to Emirates visited Guinea-Bissau. Received by 18-21 May (Dili): support those individuals. Economy Minister Helena Embaló, the dele- Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Júnior and For- gation showed particular interest in investing eign Affairs Minister Adelino Mano Queta rep- 27 May (Bissau): in the oil, natural gas, energy, infrastructure resented Guinea-Bissau in Timor Leste’s 9th Armed Forces Chief of Staff António Indjai asked construction and the fisheries sectors. independence anniversary. On the 19th both the government to create an easier recruit- countries signed a General Cooperation Agree- ment process to allow the Army to regenerate 10 May (Bissau): ment covering seven areas – from economic to its ranks, something he considered essential for The Paris Club of Creditors agreed to write- cultural cooperation. Timor Leste’s Foreign Af- the success of the SSR process. off Guinea-Bissau’s US$285 million debt. A fairs Minister Zacarias Albano da Costa stated further US$27 million owed on a bilateral ba- on that occasion that “Timor Leste has a moral 28 May (Dakar): sis will be forgiven. duty to help Guinea-Bissau in anything it needs”. In a regional UN meeting, the UN Secretary- General’s Special Representative in West Af- 10 May (Paris): 20 May (Bissau): rica called upon the international community International drug trafficking routes were World Bank official Carmen Pereira alerted to support Guinea-Bissau’s SSR process, in analyzed in a G8 Interior Ministers’ meeting to the fact that Bissau’s seaport may become particular its military retirement fund. in Paris. There is now a clear perception that inaccessible within two years as sediments drugs cross the Atlantic from South-America build up, leaving the country without its vital 30 May (Bissau): to land in West Africa, Guinea-Bissau includ- route for exports and imports. The United Nations Integrated Peace-Building ed, before moving to Europe. Office in Guinea-Bissau considered, through 20-24 May (Yamoussoukro): head of the SSR process department António 10 May (New York): President Malam Bacai Sanhá traveled to Lopes, that the reform of the country’s Armed According to a UN Office on Drugs and Crime the Ivory Coast where he witnessed Alassane Forces faces good perspectives due to the ac- report, South American drug traffickers are Ouattara’s inauguration ceremony. crued stability Guinea-Bissau has achieved in increasingly using small airplanes, instead of the last year. ships, to transfer drugs to West Africa, includ- 24 May (Bissau): ing Guinea-Bissau. The World Bank decided to grant Guinea-Bis- sau an additional US$2.2 million to support 11 May (Bissau): the country’s electric grid and water supply Some 50 protesters took to the streets of Bis- development. sau to complain against high food prices and Mozambique taxes imposed on foodstuffs. Although small, 24 May (Luanda): this protest was approached with caution by Following the 2nd meeting of Finance Ministers 3-6 May (Cape Town): the government, which has in mind last year’s of the Community of Portuguese-speaking President Armando Guebuza attended the an- Mozambique food riots. Countries held in Luanda, Finance Minister nual World Economic Forum on Africa. José Mário Vaz announced both Portugal and 11 May (Bissau): Brazil had agreed to follow the Paris Club of 8 May (Moatize): Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Júnior rebuffed Creditors’ decision and pardon the bilateral President Armando Guebuza attended the accusations made by the G8 which qualified debt of Guinea-Bissau. Portugal will forgive opening of Brazilian mining giant Vale’s new Guinea-Bissau as a narco-state, although he US$108 million and Brazil will cancel 95% of US$1.7 billion coal mine in Mozambique, which recognized the deep fragilities his country suf- the debt. will tap thermal and cooking coal reserves of fers from. around 23 billion tones. Moreover, Vale’s outgo- 24 May (Bissau): ing chairman Roger Agnelli declared that the 12 May (Washington): Guinea-Bissau’s Attorney General Amine Saad company planned to invest over US$4 billion in At the end of the Portugal-United States 29th stated that “Guinea-Bissau is not a narco- Mozambique, particularly in activities related to Bilateral Commission, both countries an- state” but that it does not possess the means coal production and export. IPRIS Lusophone Countries Bulletin | 9

14 May (Mocuba): 31 May (Munich): 11 May (Istanbul): President Armando Guebuza met Zimba- Prime Minister Aires Ali attended an Econom- Secretary of State for European Affairs Pedro bwean Minister of State Security, Sydney Se- ic Conference on Mozambique, as part of his Lourtie attended the 121st Session of the Com- keramayi, to discuss matters related to recent four-day visit to the German state of Bavaria. mittee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. political developments in Zimbabwe. The Neighborhood Policy as well as the pre- sentation of the activity report by the Secre- 17-18 May (Maputo): tary-General of the Council to member states Australian envoy to Mozambique Neil Mules were high on the agenda. Lourtie also took announced that his country will contribute the opportunity to sign, on behalf of the Por- US$17.5 million Australian dollars to a water Portugal tuguese state, the Convention on Preventing supply and sanitation project in the Mozambi- and Combating Violence against Women and can provinces of Maputo, Nampula and Cabo 1 May (Rome): Domestic Violence. Delgado. Foreign Minister Luís Amado attended the beatification ceremony of Pope John Paul II. 12 May (Istanbul): 18-20 (Windhoek): Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Co- President Armando Guebuza, accompanied by 2 May (Lisbon): operation João Gomes Cravinho took part in Foreign Minister Oldemiro Balói, paid an offi- Foreign Minister Luís Amado met with the the 4th United Nations Conference on Least cial state visit to Namibia, seeking to deepen President of the Republic of Korea’s Special Developed Countries, with the aim of assess- bilateral ties between the two countries. Gue- Envoy Park Geun-hye, to mark the 50th an- ing the results of the Brussels Plan of Action buza took the opportunity to meet with his niversary of the establishment of diplomatic adopted at the 3rd Conference in Belgium in local counterpart, Hifikepunye Pohamba and relations between Lisbon and Seoul and to 2001 and with the goal of adopting new mea- visit some regions in the south of Namibia. highlight the close links of cooperation at sures and strategies for sustainable develop- political, economic, commercial and cultural ment over the next decade. 19 May (Maputo): levels. Geun-hye also took the opportunity to During the annual meeting between the lo- meet with President Aníbal Cavaco Silva. 12 May (Brussels): cal government and its partners, the United Secretary of State for European Affairs Pedro Kingdom’s high commissioner to Mozambique 3 May (Lisbon): Lourtie attended a meeting of the EU’s Outer- Shaun Cleary announced that Mozambique’s Prime Minister José Sócrates announced that most Regions, with greater regional integra- Program Support Partners, known as the the government had reached an agreement tion between territories high on the agenda. Group of 19, will continue to support the coun- with the troika of representatives from the IMF try’s state budget. and the EU over a €78 billion bailout package 13 May (Brussels): to Portugal for the next three years. Secretary of State for European Affairs Pedro 20 May (Windhoek): Lourtie took part in the EU’s Foreign Affairs- President Armando Guebuza took part in a 5 May (Rome): Trade Council, where the reform of the Gen- SADC extraordinary summit devoted to re- Foreign Minister Luís Amado took part in the eralized System of Preferences (GSP), the up- gional economic development and in a meet- meeting of the International Contact Group on coming EU-Japan Summit and the state of the ing of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defense Libya, with an update on the situation on the Doha Round were assessed. and Security Cooperation, with the situations ground and the international mediation efforts in Zimbabwe and Madagascar still high on the towards a political solution of the crisis high 19-22 May (Díli): agenda. on the agenda. Foreign Minister Luís Amado traveled to Timor Leste to attend the country’s commemora- 23 May (Maputo): 6 May (Sofia): tions of the 9th anniversary of independence. As a result of an agreement signed in May Foreign Minister Luís Amado took part in the Amado also took this opportunity to meet with 2009 during the visit of Defense Minister Filipe “Central and Eastern Europe’s Transition and President José Ramos-Horta, Prime Minister Nyussi to China, Mozambique received a do- the Change in the Middle East” conference or- José Alexandre ‘Xanana’ Gusmão and his local nation of non-lethal equipment for the Mo- ganized by the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign counterpart Zacarias Albano da Costa as well zambican Armed Forces worth US$15 million. Affairs and the European Council on Foreign as with UN Mission (UNMIT) and GNR (Portu- Relations, where he spoke about the future of guese Republican National Guard) forces on 25 May (Maputo): the EU in the region. the ground. During the ceremonies of the 48th anniversary of the African Union (AU), Foreign Minister Ol- 9-11 May (Doha): 24 May (Brussels): demiro Balói accused NATO of overstepping the Foreign Minister Luís Amado attended the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Co- mandate approved by the United Nations Secu- opening session of the Doha International Fo- operation João Gomes Cravinho took part in rity Council regarding the ongoing situation in rum, this year under the motto “Transition to the in the EU’s Council of Ministers for De- Libya. Chaos or Reform”. Afterwards, Amado also velopment, with the adoption of an integrated traveled to Egypt where he met with his new programming strategy for South Sudan, the 30 May (Maputo): counterpart, Nabil Al-Araby, and with Secre- presentation of the Report on Official Develop- Norway’s State Secretary to the Foreign Min- tary-General of the Arab League Amr Moussa, ment Aid and accountability, the exchange of istry Erik Lahnstein announced his country’s in order to assess the current changes on the views on water issues and the situation in the interest in patrolling the coast of Mozambique ground and in the surrounding region. Ivory Coast high on the agenda. to help fight piracy. IPRIS Lusophone Countries Bulletin | 10

25 May (Paris): three-year cooperation agreement focusing on tasked with the assessment of Timor Leste’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and oil and gas exploration between the two coun- readiness and the preparedness of ASEAN Cooperation João Gomes Cravinho repre- tries. Pires also took the opportunity to meet member countries to accept the country, the sented Portugal at the annual OECD Minis- with several officials from São Tomé and Prín- conclusions of this study to be delivered in the terial Council as well as in the “OECD’s 50 th cipe’s National Oil Agency as well as from the next gathering in October in Bali. Anniversary Week”. The meeting’s theme fo- Joint Exploration Authority with Nigeria. cused on international challenges in particu- 8 May (Istanbul): lar, new sources of growth and jobs, gender 16 May (São Tomé): Foreign Minister Zacarias Albano da Costa at- equality, sharing wealth and new paradigms São Tomé and Príncipe’s Minister for Planning tended the Least Developed Countries (LCD) for development. and Development Agostinho Fernandes an- Summit, where he stressed the need for re- nounced that the European Union would de- newed and strengthened partnerships be- liver a financial contribution of€ 2.5 million as tween the Least Developed Countries (LCD) a result of a new fishing agreement. and the international, community to reduce poverty and reach the Millennium Develop- 25 May (São Tomé): ment Goals. São Tomé and Príncipe’s former President Manuel Pinto da Costa announced that he had 9 May (Díli): São Tomé registered his candidacy as an independent A Timorese court acquitted the country’s Dep- candidate for the July 17th presidential election. uty Prime Minister, José Luís Guterres, of cor- and Príncipe ruption and abuse of power after he was ac- 29 May (Abuja): cused of securing an overpaid job for his wife. 2-3 May (São Tomé): President Fradique de Menezes attended Gabonese Prime Minister Paul Biyoghe Mba – the inauguration of Nigerian President 9-13 May (Istanbul): accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs, In- Goodluck Jonathan, where he took the op- Foreign Minister Zacarias Albano da Costa ternational Cooperation and Francophonie, Paul portunity to express his outrage at NATO headed the Timorese delegation in the 4th Toungui – traveled to São Tomé, where he met and France’s interventions in Libya and Ivory United Nations Conference on the Least De- with his counterpart Patrice Trovoada, President Coast, respectively. veloped Countries. of Parliament Evaristo de Carvalho and Presi- dent Fradique de Menezes, seeking to enhance 10 May (Díli): bilateral ties. Biyoghe Mba also announced that Based on leaked US cables, Australian news- Gabon’s President Ali Bongo Odimba would visit paper The Age reported that China had of- São Tomé and Príncipe in June. fered to install a radar system in Timor Leste Timor Leste on December 2007. This offer was apparently 4 May (São Tomé): later rebutted after consultations between the São Tomé and Príncipe’s ANP-STP awarded 3 May (Díli): Timorese leadership, Australia and the US, Nigerian oil firm Oranto Petroleum explora- President José Ramos-Horta and the United due to the fact that such a facility would be tion rights for an oil block in the country’s ex- Nations Development Program (UNDP) pre- manned exclusively by Chinese technicians. clusive zone. sented the Timor Leste National Human De- However, soon afterwards, Deputy Prime Min- velopment Report 2011 entitled “Managing ister José Luís Guterres officially denied that 13 May (Abuja): Natural Resources for Human Development: such plans ever existed. Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada traveled to Ni- Developing the Non-Oil Economy to Achieve geria where he met with newly reelected Presi- the MDGs [Millennium Development Goals]”. 13 May (Canberra): dent Goodluck Jonathan. Libya, Côte d’Ivoire, In it, the UN recommends that Timor Leste Australian Immigration Minister Chris Bowen and Nigeria’s aspirations to an eventual UN should use its oil wealth to boost sustainable announced that his government would officially Security Council reform and greater economic development in the other sectors of the coun- abandon plans to establish a regional immigra- cooperation – especially in the oil sector and try’s economy and reduce inequality between tion-processing center in Timor Leste. budget support – were high on the agenda. urban and rural communities. 14-17 May (Beirut): 13 May (São Tomé): 7 May (Jakarta): Foreign Minister Zacarias Albano da Costa Putting rumors regarding Prime Minister Pa- After an ASEAN Foreign Ministers gathering, traveled to Lebanon where he held talks with trice Trovoada’s possible presidential bid in Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalega- President Michel Sleiman and caretaker For- the upcoming election to rest, ruling party ADI wa recognized that there was no consensus to eign Minister Ali Shami, to state Timor Leste’s announced that current National Assembly bring the immediate inclusion of Timor Leste intention of joining the United Nations Interim President Evaristo de Carvalho would be its in the regional organization to the upcoming Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) next November official candidate. Summit of ASEAN Heads of State. with 14 Timorese soldiers integrated into the Portuguese contingent already on the ground. 14-18 May (São Tomé): 8 May (Jakarta): Greater economic and cultural cooperation Timorese Secretary of State for Natural Re- Following the XVIII ASEAN Heads of State between the two countries as well as the situ- sources Alfredo Pires traveled to São Tomé and Summit, Indonesian President Susilo Bam- ation in the Middle East were also high on the Príncipe where he met with local Minister for bang Yudhoyono announced that the orga- agenda. Natural Resources Carlos Vila Nova to sign a nization’s respective foreign ministers were IPRIS Lusophone Countries Bulletin | 11

16 May (Díli): 23-27 May (Bali): Timorese weekly newspaper Tempo Semanal Timor Leste’s Foreign Minister Zacarias Al- disclosed a leaked UN report from January bano da Costa attended the 16th Non-Aligned 24th outlining many weaknesses in Timor Movement’s Ministerial Conference, where he Leste’s institutions, and saying consolidation called for a revitalization of the organization in of power with the Prime Minister may under- order to effectively respond to contemporary mine the role of Parliament and the courts. global challenges. Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão immediately refuted such charges.

22 May (Díli): According to chief executive of EDP Internacio- nal Paulo Miraldo, the Portuguese company is set to reorganize the electricity system in Timor Leste as part of an agreement signed with the country’s government that will also provide training, technical assistance and draw up a new energy plan.

Editor | Paulo Gorjão assistant editorS | Kai Thaler • Laura Tereno • Pedro Seabra DESIGN | Atelier Teresa Cardoso Bastos PRINTING | Europress

Portuguese Institute of International Relations and Security (IPRIS) Rua Vitorino Nemésio, 5 - 1750-306 Lisboa PORTUGAL http://www.ipris.org email: [email protected]

IPRIS Lusophone Countries Bulletin is a publication of IPRIS. The opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IPRIS. IPRIS Lusophone Countries Bulletin | 12