The senators who went on an official mission to African countries met, on Monday (12), several authorities of Cape Verde, the first stop in the international mission. The first appointment was a meeting with the minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communities, Victor Borges.

The president of the Committee on External Relations and National Defense (CRE) of the Senate, Héraclito Fortes (DEM-PI), the president of the Committee on Services and Infrastructure (CI), Marconi Perillo (PSDB-GO) and the senators João Pedro (PT-AM) and José Nery (PSOl-PA) were present at the meeting.

According to Heráclito, the mission intended to promote parliamentary diplomacy, turning closer the relations between Brazil and these countries. Heráclito explained to the authorities that parliamentarians are able to deal with "subjects that are often constricted by the formalism of diplomacy"; and this will improve the dialogue, according to the senator. 

Heráclito believes, as he said to minister Victor Borges, who should visit Brazil next month, that Cape Verde has the structure to grow, and that Brazil should be more involved in this process.

- This is the beginning of a lasting and growing relation - he affirmed, inviting the minister to visit CRE when he goes to Brazil.

Victor Borges greeted the Brazilian parliamentarians' visit. While talking about the fraternal ties uniting Brazil and Cape Verde, he reminded that in the occasion of Brazilian Independence Declaration, there was the uprising of movements in Cape Verde intending to join this country to Brazil, and that these movements were stopped by Portugal. The minister said he intends to reinforce the relations between the two countries, especially with the states of Ceará and São Paulo.

Senator João Pedro suggested that the minister should dialogue with other governors other than the ones from São Paulo and Ceará. He said that the National Water Agency (ANA) can form partnerships with Cape Verde, helping the archipelago to solve the problem of lack of drinking water. Most of the water used at the country is desalinized water from the sea.

Senator José Nery highlighted that Cape Verde is a young democracy and that this "excitant experience" can help building bridges between Brazil and Africa. According to the senator, getting in touch with the African continent will allow Brazil to return to its origins.

Senator Marconi Perillo also praised the consolidation of democracy in Cape Verde and complimented the country’s experience with ethics in the administration, efficient governing and relatively little bureaucracy. The senator offered himself to help Victor Borges dealing with subjects regarding infrastructure and reminded that Brazil has a positive experience in the definition of the agencies’ regulatory rules.

After meeting minister Victor Borges, the Brazilian senators met the president of the National Assembly, Aristides Raimundo Lima. That position is equivalent to the post of president of the Brazilian National Congress, since the legislative system of Cape Verde is unicameral. The president of the Assembly affirmed that Cape Verde intends to work as a commercial post to the European, American and African continents and that the governors of his country and Brazil should work for that.