José Luís Carneiro spoke to journalists in Luanda after a meeting with the Angolan President, João Lourenço, stressing the importance of the communities of both countries.
“The Portuguese community in Angola and the Angolan community in Portugal appreciate each other and are founded on linguistic, cultural, historical, and deeply consanguineous relationships, which make them united regarding the great objectives of the future, cooperation for development, peace, and the well-being of our communities,” he emphasized.
Regarding the nationality law, whose discussion has been postponed to October, the socialist leader highlighted that “there is more time to discuss what is at stake.”
“We have always said that we were available to refine both the foreigner’s law and the nationality law, but the nationality law must take into account a fundamental axis of Portuguese foreign policy based on privileged friendship relations with Portuguese-speaking countries,” he stressed.
“I would say that the future of the two countries is very important for future generations, particularly those who believe in the values of cooperation, peace, development, and common well-being,” concluded the PS secretary-general.
José Luís Carneiro acknowledged that “the way the proposals appeared to the public opinion caused surprise and concern regarding the options that might be taken,” assuring that PS will seek to ensure that the nationality law corresponds to this historical, cultural, linguistic, cooperation, and even consanguineous relationship.”
The socialist leader also addressed the importance of the Angolan community in Portugal for the country’s development.
“(It is) a community that lives, invests, and has cultural and social ties with our country,” he pointed out, also stating the importance of the Portuguese community that “works, invests, studies and contributes to Angola’s development.”
When questioned about the negotiations surrounding the Portuguese State Budget, he chose not to elaborate, stating it is “a matter to be dealt with in the appropriate setting.”
As for whether past relations with Angola have negatively affected PS after former Prime Minister José Sócrates admitted in court that in 2014 he met with the then Vice President of Angola in New York (USA), Manuel Vicente, to intercede for the Lena group, he affirmed that the matter was not discussed in the meeting.
