Africa-Press – Angola. The Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), on Tuesday elected the Democratic Republic of East Timor as pro tempore president of the organization, following the suspension of Guinea-Bissau, which previously held the position.
The decision was made during the First Extraordinary Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries, held virtually.
At the meeting, Angolan President João Lourenço was represented by the Foreign minister, Téte António.
The Summit was chaired by the President of São Tomé and Príncipe, Carlos Manuel Vila Nova, and analyzed the political crisis in Guinea-Bissau.
At this meeting, the Heads of State and Government expressed deep concern about the current political and institutional context in Guinea-Bissau and approved the total suspension of that country’s participation in the organization’s activities until the restoration of constitutional order.
The conference also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all persons detained in connection with the political crisis and appealed for the urgent intervention of the democratic order, through mechanisms that ensure respect for the Constitution.
The leaders of the CPLP reiterated their fraternal solidarity with the people of Guinea-Bissau and expressed their full willingness to support, in a concerted manner, all efforts leading to the restoration of institutional normality in that West African country.
In his address, the Angolan foreign minister, Téte António, reaffirmed Angola’s solidarity with the people of Guinea Bissau and stressed the importance of inclusive political dialogue, preventive diplomacy and coordinated action by member states for the restoration of stability.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa of Portugal, Luís Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, José Ramos-Horta (Timor-Leste), Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (Equatorial Guinea), José Maria Neves (Cape Verde) and Daniel Chapo (Mozambique) were the Heads of State who participated in this First Extraordinary Conference of the CPLP.
Also present were the Prime Ministers of Portugal, Luís Montenegro, of São Tomé and Príncipe, Américo d’Oliveira dos Ramos, and of Cabo Verde, José Ulisses de Pina Correia e Silva.
The CPLP Statute establishes that the Pro Tempore Presidency will be exercised on a rotating basis by each Member State, for a period of two years, according to the order agreed upon by the Heads of State and Government.
The regional organization allows for the adoption of political and diplomatic measures, including the suspension of a member state’s participation, whenever a serious violation of the constitutional order occurs, until institutional normality is restored.
The CPLP is composed of eight full member states namely Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste.
Equatorial Guinea participates as an associate member state.
The organization aims to promote political, economic, cultural and social cooperation, defend the Portuguese language, and support peace, stability, and development in its member countries.
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