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Brazilian lawmaker wants closer ties with 'Falklands' and even considers 'a friendship forum'

Thursday, February 26th 2015 - 04:14 UTC
Full article 19 comments
Celso Maldaner belongs to the strongest electoral party in Brazil and main ally of the ruling coalition headed by president Rousseff Celso Maldaner belongs to the strongest electoral party in Brazil and main ally of the ruling coalition headed by president Rousseff
The Brazilian lawmaker said he was treated as a “head of state”, and met with Governor Roberts and the eight members of the Legislative Assembly The Brazilian lawmaker said he was treated as a “head of state”, and met with Governor Roberts and the eight members of the Legislative Assembly

Brazilian federal Deputy for the southern state of Santa Catarina Celso Maldaner who last week visited the Falkland Islands said he wants to 'influence and push' for a commercial opening of Brazil with the Islands, since he believes there is great potential for making business particularly regarding fisheries and tourism.

 In an interview with the Spanish government news agency Efe, Maldaner who belongs to the main electoral party in Brazil, the PMDB, Brazilian Democratic Movement party, which is the senior ally of President Dilma Rousseff's coalition pointed out he was speaking from a personal point of view, nevertheless he strongly supports Brazil trading with the Falklands.

Brazil supports Argentina's sovereignty claim over the disputed Falklands/Malvinas Islands, a British Overseas Territory, and Maldaner during the interview referred to the Islands, as 'Falklands'.

The Brazilian government considers Argentina a strategic partner, and one of its main foreign policy objectives and thus support for the Malvinas claim, although in private President Rousseff has admitted that “you need strategic patience to deal with the Argentines”.

“You can't make politics looking at the rear view mirror”, said Maldaner who insisted that he plans to influence policy so that Brazil changes its position and takes advantage of the trade opportunities and tourism openings of the Falklands.

Maldaner was recently in the Falklands on an official mission sponsored by the British embassy in Brazil and described his tour of the Islands and treatment received, as that 'given to a head of state'.

The Brazilian lawmaker met with the Falklands' governor Colin Roberts and the eight elected members of the Legislative Assembly, and is all cases “I found a strong desire of local authorities for closer relations with Brazil”.

“One of the ideas I came back with was the possibility of creating, at congressional level ”a forum of friendship between Brazil and the Falklands“.

”I pretend to influence looking ahead, not into the past“, said Maldaner who went even further and suggested that maybe someday ”we can have the Falklands as part of Mercosur”, the block made up of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela.

However diplomatic sources in Brasilia pointed out that the trip of lawmaker Maldaner to the Falklands caused concern in the Argentine government and allegedly the issue was brought up during the recent visit of Foreign minister Mauro Vieira to Buenos Aires two weeks ago.

The invitation to visit the Falklands was extended by the British embassy to Maldaner last December.

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  • ilsen

    Hilarious!

    Feb 26th, 2015 - 05:15 am 0
  • LEPRecon

    Caused concern in Argentina did it? Well it would, wouldn't it? I mean they can't claim the 'whole' world supports them when things like this keep happening.

    Many Brazilian 'lawmakers' are beginning to realise that Argentina is an albatross hung around their necks. It's because of Argentina that trade with the EU is held up, something the struggling Brazilian economy desperately needs right now.

    But I don't see the Falklands EVER becoming part of Mercosur. I mean why would anyone join this failing union? It is far more likely that the Falklands would join the Pacific Alliance, which hasn't been morphed into a political 'talkshop' by Argentina and Venezuela.

    Oh and to the editor I think you made an error here in translation. You put “I pretend to influence looking ahead, not into the past, said Maldaner”

    I think you meant intend not pretend.

    Feb 26th, 2015 - 07:51 am 0
  • downunder

    “and push' for a commercial opening of Brazil with the Islands, since he believes there is great potential for making business particularly regarding fisheries and tourism.”

    Good business (and fat profits) will always trump somebody elses 'sovereign love'.

    ”said Maldaner who went even further and suggested that maybe someday ”we can have the Falklands as part of Mercosur”,

    Falklands as part pf Mercosur!!!!!!!
    Well the Falklands could uesefully replace Argentina in the grouping, true to form, Argentina is incapable of being a team player and, instead, always puts self interest first and is an impediment to progress.

    Feb 26th, 2015 - 08:51 am 0
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