Mozambique is going through “times of hope” – Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa

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Mozambique is going through “times of hope” – Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa

1:09 CAT | 30 Jun 2016

RR (File photo) / Portuguese president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said on Tuesday that Mozambique is going through “times of hope” and highlighted the role of former Mozambican head of state Joaquim Chissano at this “unique moment” in the relationship between the two countries.

“Compared to what we were experiencing not so many months ago, not to say even longer ago, the times in Mozambique now could be said to be hopeful, and ex-president Chissano has played a role in this hope, which we also share” Marcelo said in the closing speech of the Mozambique-Portugal Conference which took place yesterday in Cascais.

Marcelo stressed that the day presented “a unique moment for Portugal and Mozambique, because there is empathy, identity and mutual understanding” between the two countries. Rebelo de Sousa confessed that he felt Mozambique was his “second homeland”, while admitting that a president of Portugal should perhaps not say so.

“It’s unorthodox, but heterodoxy by heterodoxy, it will be neither the first nor the last of the President’s,” he said, to laughter in the audience.

In an emotional and complimentary speech, Marcelo also spoke the fellow-feeling that two shared at the Portugal-Croatia football match, with the former Mozambican president calling him “brother” towards the end of the match, and encouraging him, “We have to win!”.

The conference was organised by Mozefo, a Mozambican institution that supports dialogue and programmes for the development of Mozambique.

Source: Lusa