Lula da Silva happy for Brazilians being “well treated in Portugal”
The Brazilian president, Lula da Silva, said on Tuesday feel happy for Brazilians residing in Portugal being “well treated”.
“I am very happy because they are well treated in Portugal,” said the Brazilian head of state, during a short speech before dinner at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia, with the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the Prime Minister , Luís Montenegro, and several members of the government of both countries.
“Portugal discovered Brazil in 1500 and now Brazil discovered Portugal,” said Lula da Silva.
The Brazilian president also stressed that Portugal today “is the home of more than half a million women and men [brasileiros] who are looking for another direction, another culture, employment, improvement of life. ”
In the speech, the host, Lula da Silva, praised the fact that the country hosts the same week the state visit of Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and today the Luso-Brazilian summit that brings together in Brasilia the most important government figures in Brazil and Portugal.
Still, in a speech minutes before, during the Camões Prado Camões Prado Award ceremony, represented by son Eugênio Prado, Lula da Silva said that “respecting the dignity” of people who emigrate is a recognition of “there is more similarities than differences “between people.
“Respecting the dignity of those who emigrate in search of a better life is to recognize that there are more similarities than differences between us,” said Brazilian head of state, Lula da Silva, alongside Portuguese representatives.
Despite the compliments of Lula da Silva, a source of Brazilian diplomacy close to the negotiations of about 20 agreements that should today be signed told Lusa that the theme worries the Brazilian government and will be addressed during the summit the growing complaints of Xenophobia felt by Brazilians in Portugal.
“We have a concern with the growth of discrimination and xenophobia also in Portugal. And even with Brazilians, or perhaps especially with Brazilians,” said Brazilian diplomacy.
