This text was published on November 10, 2005 by Agência Lusa, under the title “Cravinho must apologize for insulting UNITA or be dismissed-CDS/PP”. This is João Gomes Cravinho, former Minister of Defense of Portugal and today Minister of Foreign Affairs. Memory does not let the truth prescribe.
O CDS-PP today condemned the “unacceptable statements” by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation about the historic leader of UNITA, considering that João Gomes Cravinho should be fired if he does not apologize to the party. In a statement from the party president’s office, the CDS/PP expresses its “protest and indignation” at Cravinho’s statements, Saturday, to Jornal Expresso, in which he describes Jonas Savimbi, historic leader of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola ( UNITA) as “a monster” and an “African Hitler”.
“The CDS/PP considers that UNITA and the Angolans deserve explanations and an apology, and, if this is not the case, it recommends the resignation of the Secretary of State”, says the statement.
The Christian Democrats also state that, “within the framework of foreign and cooperation policy and, in particular, in the very important context of privileged relations with Angola, the Portuguese government has to ensure that those who lead cooperation diplomacy do not express themselves as a cart driver. and does not act as an agent provocateur by calling for regrettable incidents”.
In this sense, the Portuguese party considers that Cravinho’s statements “reveal ignorance and sectarianism”, and “sadly evoke, by their provocative and incendiary tone, the worst interferences by Portuguese officials in the recent history of Angola”.
The CDS/PP defends that Angola, “after years of tragic civil war” must be able to count “with the solidary and impartial support of the international community, the European Union and, in particular, sister countries like Portugal”.
In its reaction, Wednesday, to Cravinho’s statements, the Standing Committee of UNITA considered it to be an “intolerable insult” and a “grotesque interference” in relations with Angola. Jonas Savimbi, killed in combat in the Angolan province of Moxico in February 2002, was the founder and historic leader of UNITA.
The UNITA leadership decided to send the Portuguese Prime Minister, José Sócrates, a letter expressing its “vehement protest” for what it considers to be a “grotesque and childish interference by its main spokesperson in matters of relations with Angola”.
“As for João Cravinho, it should be said, to refresh his dry memory, that whoever has Hitlerisms with him and committed unspeakable monstrosities was part of the colonizers, of which he is unfailingly a biological continuation”, said UNITA.
The largest Angolan opposition party said, however, that it believes that “responsible Portuguese leaders, without political myopia or mercantilist servility, will know how to respect and work with Angolans to create the necessary psychological framework for the good development of relations between the two peoples”.
On the other hand, he highlights the “clairvoyance of the Portuguese people, who, unlike certain members of their government, have always known how to stand alongside all Angolans”.
The Portuguese government refused on Wednesday to comment on UNITA’s reaction.
Speaking to Agência Lusa, the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, António Carneiro Jacinto, said that the Portuguese government “does not comment” on the reaction of the National Union for Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) to João Gomes Cravinho’s statements.