São Paulo – The Brazilian foreign policy for the Arab world has found its best ambassador among the Arab community living in Brazil. The statement was made this Monday (31st) by the undersecretary general for Middle East and Africa Politics at the Brazilian Ministry of External Relations, Paulo Cordeiro de Andrade Pinto, at the Jockey Club in São Paulo. The ambassador has been named the 2014 Arab Brazilian Chamber Personality, and was awarded the Order of Merit and named Commander by the organization. The event also celebrated the Day of the Arab Community in Brazil, whose official date is March 25th.
At the ceremony, speaking to the attendees, Cordeiro mentioned relations between the Arab world and Brazil, and how mutually important their economies are. “Brazilian businessmen have carried out construction work that has revolutionized the Arab countries,” the ambassador said, citing Brazilian participation in the construction of the Algiers metro and in the implementation of cotton farming in Sudan. On the other hand, he discussed Gulf-based funds which invest in Brazil. Regarding humanitarian aid, Cordeiro mentioned that Brazil has welcomed Syrian and Palestinian refugees.
He also touched on other actions designed to bring Brazilians and Arabs together, such as the introductory course on Islam offered by Brazil’s diplomatic academy Instituto Rio Branco, the work of Brazilian physicians who share their knowledge with Arab countries such as Algeria, and the sports centre Brazil helped establish in Palestine.
The Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce president Marcelo Sallum also spoke to the audience, and discussed Cordeiro’s own role in Brazilian-Arab relations. “He is a representative of Brazilian diplomacy who has made many contributions to establishing closer Brazil-Arab relations,” he said.
The dean of the Council of Arab Ambassadors in Brazil and Palestinian ambassador Ibrahim Alzeben said the undersecretary has raised the bar for relations between the two regions. “A man who works with something he believes in. A tireless champion of the dignity and freedom of human beings. A loyal friend to the Arab nation,” Alzeben said of Cordeiro. “He is a landmark of ethics, kindness and humility,” the dean said.
Cordeiro gave a display of his modesty by stating that he thought himself unworthy of the decoration, and wanted to give credit for it to the organization he serves, the Ministry of External Relations (aka Itamaraty). The undersecretary said the actions carried out by Brazil in the Arab country give international visibility to Brazil and strengthen Brazil’s foreign policy. “The policy focuses on fostering peace and unity,” said Cordeiro.
Paulo Cordeiro
Undersecretary general Cordeiro has been in his current position for three years. Born in Salvador, in the state of Bahia, and the holder of a degree in History, he told those in attendance at the Jockey Club that he owes the decoration to his wife, Vera Estrela. “One day she said to me: go make more money,” said Cordeiro with a smile on his face. According to the diplomat, Vera’s ultimatum prompted him to apply for the Foreign Ministry.
In his address, the Arab Brazilian Chamber president recounted the diplomat’s career. He mentioned Cordeiro’s work as Brazilian ambassador in Haiti, the importance of his work with the United Nations’ mission to stabilize the country, and the medals he has been awarded, including the Grand Cross of the Order of Rio Branco and the Peacemaker’s Medal, both in 2006.
Arab Day
Speaking of the Arab Community Day, Sallum told the audience of how present the Arabs are in Brazilian daily life, with their influence on the vocabulary, on mathematics and music, among others. According to him, the Arab community in Brazil comprises 12 million descendants. “Here we live in complete harmony with wildly diverse nationalities and religions,” he said.
Sallum also discussed commercial ties between the Arab world and Brazil, and the work the Arab Brazilian Chamber has carried out for over 60 years. “We helped build and rebuild cities and integrate regions by building railways, roads, ports and airports,” he said, referring to some of the areas in which Brazilians made contributions with the Arab world. He also mentioned the Arab Brazilian Chamber’s involvement with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) for developing assistance campaigns.
The dean Alzeben also discussed the situation in Palestine. He noted how Arabs are well received in Brazil, but urged people not to forget their motherland, the childhood homes they left behind. And he said that on celebrating the Arab community, he felt disillusioned for two reasons. “Firstly, the fact that Palestine remains occupied and death surrounds my brothers every day,” he said. The second reason is the Syrian situation. “What is taking place in Syria right now is a crime against humanity,” he said.
Arabian horses
The guests were welcomed with a cocktail at São Paulo’s Jockey Club and watched a race of thoroughbred Arabian horses. The contest was part of the celebrations sponsored by the Arab Brazilian Chamber and featured seven horses.
The winner, which received a prize of R$ 20,196.00 (US$ 8,909.00) was the horse Atentaddo VE, ridden by José Ventura, and owned by José Luiz Aranha. The second horse was All Pol Rach, ridden by Antônio Queiroz, and owned by Lucas Quintana, and the third was Mahogany HVP, ridden by the jockey Gelson Ribeiro, and owned by Eduardo Garcia. Total betting was R$ 18,000 (US$ 7,940).
Before the race, three horses paraded wearing colourful Arab clothing. The jockeys riding them also wore typical Arab attire.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum