GOA FORGAVE PORTUGAL IN 1974: ENVOY by Ramnath N Pai Raikar

PANJIM: The Ambassador of Portugal to India, Mr Jorge Roza de Oliveira on Saturday said that he has still not been able to understand what really Goan freedom fighters want from Portugal, as the Portuguese foreign minister, way back in 1974 had already pleaded forgiveness for the 450 years of Portuguese rule in Goa, and was given the same.

Mr Oliveira, who is presently in Goa to attend the 37th anniversary of ‘25th de Abril’ - the Portuguese Revolution which brought democratic regime in the Iberian country - at the Portuguese Consulate, told ‘The Navhind Times’ that Portugal has already done what Britain did not do. “There were also other colonial regimes in India, which did more damage to Indian society than we did,” he observed, pointing out, “I myself don’t see any past and would like to appeal to Goans to concentrate on present and seek opportunities for the future.”

“Some radical people think that the former Portuguese dictator, Dr António de Oliveira Salazar is still alive and 120 years old,” the newly-appointed Portuguese Ambassador to India quipped, adding that it is 2011 and we should now look at the calendar. “Portugal, in 1974 was on the verge of being kicked out of the United Nation’s Security Council, but fortunately attained democracy and is now a non-permanent member of the Council for the third time,” he informed.

The Portuguese Ambassador to India maintaining that Portugal too had a Colonial War, which lasted for ten years, said that it claimed 10,000 Portuguese soldiers. “We are, however, not talking about past when we go to Brazil or Angola, and I don’t understand why it is done in Goa,” he questioned, reminding that Portugal has excellent relations with India and when the process of reforms started at the United Nations, the only two countries vocally supported by Portugal were Brazil and India.

Mr Oliveira, who presented his credentials to the President of India, Ms Pratibha Patil just two weeks ago, lamented that Portugal had failed to establish trade and commerce with India, which has a vibrant economic policy. “Actually, we are to be blamed for the same as we never came forward in terms of trade and commerce,” he regretted, “may be because of the distance between the two countries as also due to the closer business alternatives like other European countries and North Africa.”

Observing that Portugal is presently much better in terms of its social indicators and has nothing to be ashamed of, the Portuguese Ambassador to India said that his priority would be establishing trade and commerce relations with India in four sectors namely infrastructure, water management, waste management and alternative energy. “In fact, India in general and Goa in particular has abundant sun and Portugal, which has the largest solar farm in Europe, can help India in the generation of solar energy,” he opined.

“However, after the recent tragedy in Japan, the implementation of Nuclear Energy Policy in India would be more difficult as locals will oppose setting up of nuclear reactors here,” Mr Oliveira, remarked while discussing possible exchange in the nuclear field between the two countries.

Maintaining that presently India sells more products to Portugal than what Portugal sells to India, the Portuguese Ambassador to India questioned as to how many Portuguese companies had set up their shops in Goa, and how many starred hotels in Goa were providing Portuguese wines. “I already had a talk with the Confederation of Indian Industry, and am in touch with various Chambers of Commerce,” he informed, pointing out that trade from Portuguese side to India is between 50 and 100 million euros, while from both sides, it is between 400 and 450 million euros.

“A number of Portuguese companies have their units based in places like Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala,” Mr Oliveira informed, noting that products ranging from electric transformers to equipment for petrol pumps, and textiles to shoe components are manufactured by these companies.

Admitting that Portugal is being used as a gateway to Europe by many people, by obtaining Portuguese Visa, the Portuguese Ambassador to India said that there is a need to ensure that the Portuguese Visa rules are not abused. “In fact, we are too generous in this respect and hence there is pressure on the Goan Consulate to provide Portuguese nationality and passports,” he observed, maintaining that since the Consulate is totally submerged in bureaucratic work, the Consul General has no time to promote cultural as well as trade and commerce activities in Goa.

The Consul General of Portugal to Goa, Dr António Sabido Costa informed that the Portuguese Consulate in Goa on an average issues 1,500 visas annually. “The people from Goa, Daman, Diu and Maharashtra can approach the Goa Consulate for visas,” Dr Costa maintained, pointing out that in the past, a number of cases pertaining to forged documents were noticed while scrutinising applications for visas. “However, now we have made the entire process of issuing visas as well as Portuguese nationality totally watertight,” he informed.

The Consul General of Portugal to Goa also mentioned that presently around 700 students from Goan public schools including secondary and higher secondary level students are learning Portuguese language. “In addition, various institutions like Fundação Cidade de Lisboa, Fundação Oriente, Indo-Portuguese Friendship Society and Institute Camões are also helping in conducting the Portuguese language classes,” he concluded. - Courtesy The Navhind Times