“People need to calm down” – PM
In the wake of Portugal’s concern over the military agreement former colony São Tomé e Principe has entered into with Russia, the archipelago’s prime minister has said “people need to calm down”.
“We are independent, sovereign. Nobody is going to dictate to us how we should relate to Russia,” said Patrice Trovoada, referring to the controversy surrounding the military-technical agreement, which has not been publicised by his executive.
News of its signing came to the surface after it was reported by the official Russian news agency Sputnik.
According to the Russian press, the two sides agreed to cooperate in the fields of joint troop training, recruitment of armed forces, use of weapons and military equipment, logistics, exchange of experience and information – in the framework of the fight against the ideology of extremism and international terrorism – education and training of personnel. It also provides for participation in military exercises (meaning Russia can visit São Tomé with military aircraft/ warships, etc).
Last week, Portuguese minister of foreign affairs Paulo Rangel said Portugal had communicated surprise” and “apprehension” to this member of the CPLP (community of Portuguese speaking countries).
Today, Trovoada dismissed the need for concern: “I don’t think there’s any reason for concern. It is a normal, customary agreement that exists with various countries and, above all, Portugal has no reason to be concerned,” he said emphasising that the archipelago has “long-standing” and “deep” cooperation with Portugal, writes Lusa.
With regard to Russia’s war with Ukraine, São Tomé and Príncipe “was quite clear” about its position, he added, recalling that, at one of the United Nations Assemblies, he gave “proxy to Portugal to vote on behalf of São Tomé and Príncipe against Russia”.
“Things are going well between Portugal and São Tomé and Príncipe and, as they say, in love it’s not just about saying “I love you”, but we’ve already shown enough proof of love,” said the head of São Tomé’s government.
Trovoada added that the agreement has been in force, as announced by the Russian press, since May 5, but will follow the internal procedures to be put it into effect.
“On our side things are clear, they’re calm and it’s not an agreement that deserves so much controversy. An agreement is signed, it is in force, the agreement will then go through a whole series of procedures to come into effect, so the controversy isn’t there,” he said.
On Wednesday, Jorge Bom Jesus, leader of the São Tomé’s opposition – the São Tomé e Príncipe Liberation Movement/Social Democratic Party (MLSTP/PSD), criticised “the secrecy” with which the government signed the agreement, predicting consequences for relations with the European Union and the United States.
“This is an agreement alluding to which at no time have we heard any Cabinet communiqué”, he said, defending that “an agreement on this scale, in a very sensitive area and given the world context at the moment, I think it requires interaction between the various sovereign bodies, so the government, the Presidency of the Republic and the knowledge of the Parliament, for approval and ratification by the country’s president”.
Patrice Trovoada clearly thinks otherwise. And he stressed that he “gets on well with many European countries, and I don’t need to pass through Portugal to speak with Europe, just as if Europe wants to speak with me, it doesn’t need to pass through Portugal”.
Source material: LUSA/ O Novo
