Cape Verde’s President José Maria Neves praised the “enormous progress” made in diplomacy in the 47 years since the country’s independence.
They proposed the creation of “new instruments” and “new diplomatic channels” to face the world’s challenges.
The successes the country has achieved to date are the result of hard work, selfless and generous work of Cape Verdean diplomats in the interest of development.
“We have been practicing development diplomacy since July 5, 1975, and the results are there for all to see,” the head of state wrote in a message alluding to Cape Verde Diplomacy Day, which is being celebrated for the first time today.
On August 10, the Cape Verdean government declared September 16 as Cape Verde Diplomacy Day, alluding to the country’s accession to the United Nations (UN) Organization in 1975.
For the chief justice of the Cape Verdean nation, this day was established “at a good time” because it is a gain, a consolidation of achievements, and a refinement of processes.
However, he suggested “creating new instruments and new diplomatic channels innovative enough” for the country to face the challenges of forming a world order.
“And to accelerate the process of socioeconomic transformation in a small island nation saturated with many constraints that hinder the development process,” wrote José Maria Neves, who is traveling to the United States of America, where he will attend the United Nations General Assembly next week.
In 47 years, he said, diplomacy has condensed, brought “enormous benefits” to the country, and has been institutionalized as an “important pillar” of the Cape Verdean development process.
“A diplomacy that has focused primarily on promoting the country’s interests and that, with intelligence and pragmatism, has succeeded in making Cape Verde known in the world, mobilizing partnerships and resources, and confronting the enormous challenges we face,” he said.
The activities on the occasion of the first day of Cape Verdean diplomacy took place both in person in Praia and via videoconference. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized them.
In his message, Cape Verdean Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva announced that the government was preparing a national foreign policy strategy to define an economic diplomacy plan to attract foreign investment.
In his opening speech, transmitted by videoconference, Foreign Minister Rui Figueiredo Soares expressed the will for diplomacy to continue to be a “fundamental pillar” for the country’s development, which has a “cautiously dynamic attitude” in foreign policy.
In addition to an address, diplomats and diplomatic personnel were honored, the Cape Verde and United Nations flags were raised, and then a tree was planted in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs courtyard as a symbol of the day.
As part of the activities concluded by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Miryan Vieira, a brochure on Cape Verde Diplomacy Day was also presented.