The Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) celebrated its 25th anniversary this Saturday in Luanda with the conclusion of a framework agreement for mobility, concrete proposals to strengthen economic and business cooperation and a warning to Equatorial Guinea.
At the 13th CPLP Conference of Heads of State and Government, the nine countries that make up the CPLP signed a mobility agreement, which will have to be ratified and will allow the circulation of professionals, students, and business people, a process concluded by the Cape Verdean presidency.
"We consider that the free circulation of the community's citizens, the enhancement of the economic value of the Portuguese language, and the projection of culture are key elements for a greater consolidation of the CPLP," said Cape Verdean President Jorge Carlos Fonseca.
The Portuguese Prime-Minister, António Costa, considered that this agreement "will change everything in people's lives" because it inverts the current principle of authorization by the issuance of a visa to that of freedom of movement, and committed himself to present the ratification proposal to parliament, which he hopes to see approved in September.
Angola, which today began its two-year term as president of the CPLP, has already announced the goal of creating a common investment bank, an idea that, admitted Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, can move forward if there are significant investments from various parties.
"We can be a relevant economic force if we work for it," said the Angolan President, João Lourenço.
The creation of a potential bank is in line with the intention of including a new economic and business pillar in the organization, an old objective that is only now going to be realized by the member countries, and for which it will be necessary to change the organization's statutes.
As for Equatorial Guinea, which joined in 2014 and committed to ending the death penalty, the countries again insisted on fulfilling that commitment.
In addition to the end of the death penalty, the Portuguese President referred to "the rule of law, democracy, human rights, and fundamental values and principles.
About this subject, António Costa said that this is "a problem that no one ignores" and reminded that Equatorial Guinea has the obligation to fulfill the commitments it has assumed. If it doesn't, "it cannot be part" of the community, he warned.
The Lusophone leaders also repudiated the attacks in northern Mozambique and expressed solidarity with the Mozambican authorities, but without deciding on any concrete support from the CPLP.
The head of state of Portugal received the José Aparecido de Oliveira Award and decided to donate the 30 thousand euros of the award to Caritas of Mozambique to support non-governmental organizations operating in Cabo Delgado.
At this summit, the former head of Timorese diplomacy, Zacarias da Costa, was sworn in as the new executive secretary. He succeeds the Portuguese Francisco Ribeiro Telles, who was praised by political leaders for the "dedication, high competence, and determination" with which he served the CPLP.
Breaking a tradition of the organization, the leaders decided to postpone by 15 days the announcement of the country that will host the next summit, in 2023, and which traditionally is the state that then holds the rotating presidency of the CPLP.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa explained that it was decided to wait for the elections in São Tomé and Príncipe to know if the country is available to host the presidency of the organization.
Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and East Timor are part of the CPLP.