UN Radio: What are Brazil’s priorities in these debates at the General Assembly for the year 2016?
Minister José Serra: Look, Brazil’s broad priorities regarding the United Nations are the international framework. They are intertwined with the very mission of the UN. First, the promotion of peace; second, human rights; third, sustainable development. This is the tripod on which Brazil’s international policy is built, so to speak. In these times, more than ever. Now, at this Assembly, the issue of refugees, which combines two of these three objectives, will be a very important topic. It involves the theme of peace on one side, since conflicts in the Middle East and Africa generate mass displacements of people, and the theme of protection and promotion of human rights because refugees and migrants have rights inherent to their condition as more vulnerable populations.
UN Radio: Will Brazil make any promises at this Refugee Summit to host more refugees, given that the country has a great tradition of welcoming refugees?
JS: We have always welcomed them because the drama of refugees and migrants is not foreign to our history. We are a country whose diversity and richness resulted precisely from the contributions that foreign-origin populations made to our development. Some through normal immigration and some also through refuge, arriving in the country as refugees for various reasons from other parts of the world.
UN Radio: Now, let’s talk about the Paris Agreement still within this debate at the General Assembly. Brazil has just ratified the treaty. How will the implementation of this Agreement be now in Brazil?
JS: In Brazil, we are already getting to work. We are at the beginning. I would say at the beginning of the beginning. The world is also in this position, but we are further ahead. Now, the targets we have set are ambitious. And they seem, to some, impossible. But I believe that the mission in politics is to surpass the known limits of the possible. And we will do this, I have no doubt.
UN Radio: Brazil has a solid partnership with the United Nations. The Secretary-General himself, Ban Ki-moon, issued a statement expressing hope that this “historic and close” cooperation, as he defined it, continues with President Temer. How do you, as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, intend to introduce some changes or further strengthen this partnership? What is your proposal?
JS: We will be more present; we are even interested in returning to the UN Human Rights Council.
UN Radio: Is there anything else you would like to add to this interview?
JS: Just an appendix regarding the Portuguese language is that we are a firm supporter of the International Institute of the Portuguese Language, which coordinates among Portuguese-speaking countries the policies for promoting the language. Just to remind the existence of this institute, which is very important.
President Temer gives the highest priority to the organization. Peace on one side, sustainable development on the other, and human rights to close the triangle. These are our priority criteria, and we will continue to fight for them in our daily lives. As we have done, including in matters of human rights, here in South America itself.