Brazilian emissary floats tripartite plans |22 December 2004

Speaking after her accreditation visit to State House, Ambassador Leda Lucia Camargo said, "If I have some Seychellois students in Brazil, if we can cooperate in tourism, perhaps if we can do something together about the reform of the United Nations, I think if I have these three things it would be a very successful work."

The new ambassador was speaking after two half-hour meetings, first with President James Michel, and then with Vice-President Joseph Belmont, with whom she placed particular emphasis on the idea of a student exchange.

"The idea that I discussed with the Vice-President was about universities, and in this case (a student exchange) cannot be before one year and a half, as classes in Brazil start in February so it must be for 2006," she said.

The Brazilian envoy said that political relations between her country and Seychelles are strong, thanks in part to good relations between the two countries' diplomatic missions to the UN in New York.

"We have many similar positions in many areas. In sustainable development, poverty, environment, and we can have bigger cooperation about theses areas in international organisations," said the new ambassador after concluding her meeting with the Vice- President.
But while the political ties may be strong, the ambassador said that trade links remain weak.

"They are very small in commerce because we have two oceans between us, so trade is a little complicated," she said.

After Tuesday's presidential meetings Ambassador Camargo will today hold talks with the Leader of the Opposition, Wavel Ramkalawan, and the diplomatic corps representative, Vladimir Kalinin, the Russian ambassador.

Based in the Mozambican capital Maputo, Ambassador Camargo is accredited to her host nation, Seychelles, Madagascar, Swaziland and Tanzania.

Despite Seychelles' diminutive size compared to the other countries she will cover, Ambassador Camargo said that it will be granted equal importance.

"I don't think the size of a country has anything to do with its importance. Brazil is a big one, but it doesn't mean that it is any more important than Seychelles. Seychelles is a country with the same weight as Brazil and that is how I see Seychelles."

Mrs Camargo is the fourth Brazilian ambassador to Seychelles, following the establishment of diplomatic relations in November 1986, and replaces Pedro Luiz Carmeiro de Mendonca.