Statement by His Excellent Carlos dos Santos, High Commissioner for the Republic of Mozambique
Sir Ronald Halstead
Council Chairman
Honourable Members of Parliament
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Allow me to begin my deep appreciation to the Council for the kind invitation to come and speak. I wish also to thank you for taking the time to be here and for your interest in my country, Mozambique. We do not take this for granted and we will always seek best ways of keeping this partnership alive.
I would also like to thank Chris Buckwell for the role he played in making this event possible and offering to assist in building our partnership well beyond this meeting.
You have kindly asked me to speak on Mozambique’s foreign relations, which I am happy to do. I though I would begin by speaking briefly on some basic facts about the country and some of the latest internal political and economic development, for we all agree that domestic policy informs foreign policy. We also agree that foreign policy has a bearing on domestic policy.
I am happy to say that Mozambique is going through one of the most exciting period in her history. The country and her 23 million citizens are living in peace and political stability, building democracy through the constant improvement of democratic practices and institutions.
It is worth noting that our Parliament, which is a one House system, the Assembly of the Republic has been improving the quality of its debates, from a time of inter-party blaming to debates on relevant national issues and adoption of requisite legislation. In this process we count on assistance from the Westminster Parliamentary Association through exchanges of visits of Parliamentarians and Secretariat staff. We also count on the assistance from the European Association AWEPA.
The Executive and Judiciary have also been experiencing great improvements, the lack of adequate qualified staff notwithstanding. The government is facing the challenges of administrative incapacities head on.
One of the most exciting things for Mozambique and Mozambicans is the new mineral and hydrocarbon resources finds. The confirmation of large reserves of coal, natural gas, heavy sounds and other minerals bear the potential of transforming the country’s economy and livelihoods of Mozambicans. We are working with international partners, including the UK, to ensure that such transformation will be to the benefit of all Mozambicans. We have adhered to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) to ensure that we act within the boundaries and standards of the internationally accepted rules and practice. Mozambique is now compliant with the EITI principles.
The excitement I have been speaking about has not started with this new natural resource boom. It has been building up in the last decade in which sound macro-economic policies and good economic and corporate governance led to very encouraging annual economic growth rates of 7 to 8%. While starting from a very low base, such persistent growth has allowed greater sustenance of the country’s development. This level of economic growth was made possible by investment in agriculture, transport and communication, industry and trade, fisheries and tourism. These sectors will remain major priorities for the Government, which will now have greater financial capacity in the years to come to boost development in these sectors.
Honourable Members of Parliament
Ladies and Gentlemen
The positive developments that I have summarised have been made possible by good political, economic and corporate governance and the efforts of the hard working people of Mozambique. We, however, recognise and appreciate the valuable role played by the international community at all levels. Even in times of the so-called ‘donor fatigue’, Mozambique continued to receive generous contributions to aid her development and reduce poverty.
This is the background against which the foreign policy of Mozambique has been developed and implemented. The motto of my country’s foreign policy is “to make more friends” for Mozambique and Mozambicans.
The main goals and principles of our foreign policy are enshrined in the Constitution of the country and they include:
a) Establishment of friendly and cooperative relations with other states based on the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, equality, non-interference in internal affairs and reciprocity of benefits;
b) Observance of the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter and the African Union Constitutive Act;
c) Respect for International Law;
d) Solidarity with the African people’s struggle for unity, freedom, dignity and the right to economic and social progress;
e) Strengthening of relations with all countries seeking to consolidate their independence, democracy and the use and control of their natural resources in the benefit of their peoples;
f) Joining international efforts towards a just and equitable economic order in international relations;
g) Pursuance of peace and resort to the use of force in legitimate self-defence;
h) Advocating peaceful and negotiated resolution of conflicts;
i) Advocating the transformation of the Indian Ocean in a denuclearised area and a zone of peace.
It is in the pursuance of these main goals and principles that Mozambique joined the United Nations, the African Union, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Commonwealth, the Organisation of Islamic Conference, the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), the Community of Portuguese Speaking countries (CPLP), among others. In all of these organisations, Mozambique has always sought to develop a constructive spirit of dialogue and understanding, mutual respect and building consensus where appropriate.
Mozambique has played an important role on such issues as decolonisation and fight against apartheid, maintenance of international peace and security, the banning of land mines, cluster munitions, combating the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and, more recently, in the adoption of the Arms trade treaty. Mozambique has contributed significantly to conflict resolution in South Africa and the African continent as a whole. When the issue of East Timor’s independence was almost forgotten, Mozambique and a few other countries kept it alive at the United Nations until a settlement was reached, and supported the UN peacekeeping operation and the new government in Timor Lest. Burundi, Madagascar, Northern Uganda, guinea Bissau and Zimbabwe are some of the conflict resolution processes in which Mozambique has been directly involved.
Mozambique supports the idea of ‘soft diplomacy’ developed by Prof Joseph Nye of Harvard University (in the 1990s). A concept that seeks to harness ‘soft power’ instead of ‘hard power’ in international relations.
We also concur with the UK’s current government principle of building partnerships based on equal and mutual benefits, and economic diplomacy which promoted investment and trade instead of economic coercion.
We concur with President Obama’s assertion in his book entitled Audacity of Hope, and I quote “No nation likes to be bullied”. No matter how big or small, every nation seeks to be respected and treated with dignity even when there are differences. Disputes can be settled through dialogue. Even wars end in negotiation and dialogue in order to sustain peace and avoid recurrence.
I would like to conclude my remarks by saying that we, in Mozambique are happy with the level of relations between our two countries be it at a political level, economic or corporate level, or at a civil society and grassroots level.
We value the development assistance funds that the UK provides through DFID and other forms of official assistance and co-operation. We equally appreciate the increasing levels of private sector involvement in Mozambique.
The high level visits by President Guebuza to the UK last year and the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg’s, visit to Mozambique early this year and numerous Ministerial and technical visits are a testimony of the excellent relations we are enjoying. And I have received indications that the UK government wishes to expand those relations with Mozambique. We welcome this desire and we want to act on further strengthening our relations.
We thank you for playing a role in furthering these relations and thank you again for listening to what we have to say!
I thank you and I am ready to answer any questions.
HE Carlos dos Santos, High Commissioner for the Republic of Mozambique
HE Mr. Carlos dos Santos holds an Executive MBA from the Zicklin School of Business – Baruch College, City University of New York, and a Master of Science in International Relations from the University of Zimbabwe.
He is High Commissioner for the Republic of Mozambique to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland since September 2011. He is also a non-residence ambassador to Ireland since March 2013. Before his appointment to the current post, he was Ambassador of Mozambique to Germany, Austria and the Holy See (non resident in the last two) (2006-2011), as well as Director for Europe and the Americas in Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (2005-2006), Senior Adviser to the President of the Republic of the Republic of Mozambique (2003-2005) and Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Mozambique to the United Nations (1996-2002).
He has some Participation in International Conferences and Seminars as Mozambique Delegate to the UN General Assembly, Mozambique Delegate to the Law of the Sea Conference (PRECOM), Mozambique Delegate to the Non-Aligned Movement Summits, Mozambique Delegate to OAU and AU Summits among others. He has Published Articles: “The Nexus Between Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding, Background Paper: Mozambique, 1999”, in: “The Nexus between Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding: Debriefing and Lessons”, Report of the Singapore Conferences, published by KLUWER INTERNATIONAL LAW; and “For a Global Agenda on Small Arms” in: Biannual publication of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, nº2 in 2001.