The relationship with Mozambique, a former Portuguese colony, "
is strategic and a priority
" for Portugal, said Prime Minister Antonio Costa after a visit to this country, marked by the request for forgiveness for a massacre perpetrated during the colonial period.
"
For Portugal, the relationship with Mozambique is strategic and a priority
," wrote Antonio Costa on his Twitter account, after an official visit to Mozambique that ended on Saturday.
This visit was marked by the request for forgiveness addressed to its former colony, which became independent in 1975, for the massacre of Wiriyamu in 1972 during which some 400 unarmed civilians were killed by Portuguese soldiers.
“
Almost 50 years after that terrible day of December 16, 1972, I cannot fail here to evoke and bow to the memory of the victims of the Wiriyamu massacre, an inexcusable act that dishonors our history
,” he said on Friday. evening during a dinner with the President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi.
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"
A relationship as intense and of such longevity
" is "
inevitably marked
" by "
moments that we certainly want to remember but also by moments and events that we have a duty never to forget
" and, " in the
face of history, we have a duty of repentance
," he said.
During this visit, Antonio Costa had also indicated that Mozambique, which will begin to export natural gas, could contribute to "
the solution of the world energy crisis
" by using in particular the Port of Sines, located on the south coast. west of Portugal, "
as a gateway to Europe
".
"
The start of natural gas exploration in Mozambique could not have come at a better time
,” he said.
