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“The Portuguese Government registers the declarations […]. But the fundamental point is this: in Portugal, the decision makers are the Portuguese authorities, who make the decisions that interest Portugal., within the framework of the Constitution and Portuguese law and the competences that the law attributes to the different competent authorities ”, said Augusto Santos Silva.
“Decisions made in Portugal are made in accordance with democratic and humanistic values, Portuguese values, in accordance with the national interests of Portugal, in accordance with the conciliation process at the level of the European Union, when this process is relevant and with the alliance system in which Portugal is integrated, which is well known and is very stabilized ”, he added.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Augusto Santos Silva, commented, in statements to the Lusa agency, the Ambassador George Glass interview with the weekly
Quick, in which he defended that Portugal has to choose between the US “friends and allies” and the “economic partner” China.
One of the central topics of the interview was the new 5G technology. Glass said the United States preferred Portugal not to have any Huawei equipment and stressed that if the Chinese company enters 5G in Portugal, the defense relationship between Portugal and the United States may change.
The US ambassador said that the consequences of Portugal opting to work with China will not be political, at least not immediately, but in terms of Defense and security, and may influence NATO activity or the exchange of classified information.
George Glass also threatened an end to natural gas distribution through Sines if the construction of the new terminal is handed over to China.
Asked by the Lusa agency about whether George Glass’s statements It can be considered an interference in Portuguese internal affairs, Santos Silva argued that he did not do so and recalled the good relations between Portugal and the United States.
“I don’t see it. The deep friendship that unites the two countries, the way we have developed very fruitful relationships over the years, the way we collaborate closely, whether bilaterally or in multilateral organizations, all of this. It justifies not commenting on the timing and form of the ambassador’s interview, ”he replied.
For Santos Silva, the Portuguese government “knows” what the interests of Portugal are, as well as those of the allies, and the obligations, after which, he insisted, it makes the decisions.
“We decide based on our own options. We are the ones we choose and have chosen for a long time. We are part of the EU, NATO, the West, we have a privileged relationship with Africa, with Latin America, with different regions of Asia, and our allies know all this. And they know that we are allies at all times, not on occasion. We are reliable and credible allies ”, he argued.
Regarding whether the statements of the US diplomat represent the possibility of being called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to give explanations, Santos Silva de-dramatized the issue.
“I have already answered the essential question. Of course, for all of us, what is the frame of reference in which we move and that who decides what we do is us, at all times“He replied, defending, however, that Portugal considers all foreign investment welcome, including North American companies:” We are in favor of foreign investment that complies with European and Portuguese legislation and contributes to the Portuguese economy, “he added.
At last, On the specific issue of 5G, Santos Silva highlighted that there are evaluation criteria: “We know very clearly that, in certain aspects that have to do with national security issues or defense systems in which Portugal is integrated, the evaluation criteria also incorporate these criteria,” he concluded.
c / The day after tomorrow
