Ambassador Magalhaes and PM Douglas (r)
Photo By Erasmus Williams
Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
February 24, 2010 (CUOPM)
Brazil’s first Resident Ambassador to the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has been welcomed to the twin-island Federation by Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas.
Dr. Douglas in welcoming His Excellency Miguel Magalhaes expressed thanks to Brazilian President His Excellency Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for appointing him as the first Resident Ambassador to St. Kitts and Nevis.
Ambassador Magalhaes, who earlier presented his credentials to Governor General Dr. Sir Cuthbert Sebastian and paid a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Sam Condor, told Prime Minister Douglas that he was pleased to be in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“This appointment is a personal honour for me and I intend to do all that is possible to explore avenues of cooperation with St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Ambassador Magalhaes.
He said that the decision of President Lula to appointment an ambassador to each Caribbean state is an indication that Brazil’s recognition on each country as its neighbour.
“Your president has been pursuing a foreign policy in the Caribbean as an important global strategy. My Government pledges its support and the strengthening of the cooperation in local, regional and international matters. We have so much to learn from this new relationship,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
He recalled leading a CARICOM delegation to Brazil a few years ago, to meet with President Lula, his Foreign Minister and other Government officials, to discuss Brazil’s assistance in combating the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the region.