Portugal, Former Colonies Form Own Commonwealth
Portugal and six former colonies, including Brazil, fulfilled a long-held ambition to unite their 200 million people in a commonwealth Wednesday and then immediately began work on setting priorities.
Leaders from Portugal, Brazil and the African nations of Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, and Sao Tome and Principe held their first summit almost immediately.
The Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP), which echoes the British Commonwealth and Francophone associations, is intended to strengthen the international role of Portuguese in an increasingly English-speaking world.
Its members also see the CPLP tightening economic and political ties between countries whose bilateral relations have not always been easy since Portugal gave up its last African colonies 20 years ago.
In a first display of cohesion, the group announced that it will back Brazil’s demand for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council as part of a package of reforms to make international organizations more democratic.
Members also agreed to a joint stand on East Timor, pledging to press for an internationally acceptable solution for the troubled former Portuguese colony, annexed by Indonesia 20 years ago.
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