The Community of Portuguese Language Countries reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Community of Portuguese Language Countries

The Community of Portuguese Language Countries (Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa) or CPLP its a multilateral forum for mutual friendship between the Portuguese language nations across the world.

Table of contents

1 The formation and member states 2 The Importance of CPLP 3 CPLP System 4 Main iniciatives 5 Free Movement of People 6 Other Countries and Territories 7 See also 8 External link

The formation and member states

CPLP was formed in 1996 with seven countries, Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and São Tomé and Príncipe, five of them are in Africa. East Timor joined the community in 2002 after regaining independence from Indonesia.

The CPLP is a bloc in the process of construction and the societies of the eight member nations have little knowledge of each other. One of the unique features of the CPLP is that its members are linked by a common language and shared cultural features, which form a bridge between countries separated by great distances and different continents.

The Importance of CPLP

The Portuguese-speaking countries are home to more than 223 million people located across the globe but having similar cultures and a shared history. The CPLP nations have a combined area of about 10,742,000 square kilometers, much larger than the USA or Canada.

Since its formation, the CPLP has already helped to solve problems in São Tomé and Príncipe and in Guinea-Bissau, because of two different coup d'etats in those countries. These two problems were solved, and in fact, have helped these two countries to take economic reforms (in the case of São Tomé) and democratic ones (in the case of Guinea-Bissau).

The leaders of CPLP believe that peace in Angola and Mozambique as well as East Timor's independence will favour the further development of the CPLP and a strengthening of multilateral cooperation.

CPLP System

The Organization’s Executive Secretariat is responsible for designing and implementing CPLP´s projects and initiatives. It is located in Lisbon, Portugal. The Executive Secretary has a two-year mandate, and can be re-elected only once.

Since 2002 (to 2004), Brazilian ambassador João Augusto de Médicis was chosen to be CPLP´s Executive Secretary. So, Brazil is the president of the Community, succeding Mozambique.

CPLP´s guidelines and priorities are established by biannual Conference of Heads of State and the Organization’s plan of action is approved by the Council of Foreign Ministers, which meets every year.

There are also monthly meetings of the Permanent Steering Committee that follow specific initiatives and projects.

The CPLP is mainly financed by its eight member states.

Main iniciatives

• CPLP´s HIV-Aids Program – designed to help the 5 African member states
• Center for the Development of Entrepreneurial Skills – being established in Luanda, Angola
• Center for the Development of Public Administration – being established in Maputo, Mozambique
• Center for East-Timorese Official Languages
• Conference on Malaria – to be held in São Tomé and Príncipe
• Portuguese Language Census
• Digital School and University
• Electoral Mission to Guinea-Bissau (East Timor’s Foreign Minister, the Nobel Prize laureate, José Ramos-Horta is CPLP´s Representative to the Electoral Process)
• Emergency Project for the Support of Institution Rebuilding in Guinea-Bissau
• Rebuilding East Timor’s Justice and Public Administration
• Combating Poverty and Starvation

Free Movement of People

The eight Portuguese-speaking nations signed agreements to facilitate the cross-border circulation of their citizens, including multiple-entry visas for businesspeople and others who travel frequently, a streamlining of the requisites and fees paid for short visits, and the right to medical treatment and residency permits for all CPLP citizens in every one of the member countries.

However, a proposal for the adoption of common citizenship failed because Angola and Mozambique opposed. The statute, which is already in force between Brazil and Portugal, would provide equal civil and political rights for the citizens of any nation of CPLP.

Other Countries and Territories

Some Galicians want the autonomous region of Galicia (Galiza) in Spain to take part in this Union, because their language (Galego) is closely related to Portuguese (in fact many consider one to be a dialect of the other). The two languages (or dialects) have a common origin in Galicia and northern Portugal. A similar case happened with East Timor. But before independence East Timor had the status of Observer, although the exiled government of East Timor tried to gain full member status before independence.

When CPLP was formed, Equatorial Guinea has also asked for an observer status. Equatorial Guinea has some territories where Portuguese Creole is spoken and cultural conection with São Tomé and Príncipe and Portugal is felt. Nevertheless, the country has recently cooperated with Portuguese-speaking African countries and Brasil in educational level.

The Instituto Internacional de Macau, from Macao as a observer status in the community. Its aim is to approach Macaese youngsters to the CPLP nations and culture. Thus, assuring the different identity of the territory within China.

See also

• La Francophonie
• the Latin Union

External link

• Official site of CPLP (in Portuguese)
• Seminário da CPLP - Culture and Development of CPLP (in Portuguese)

Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP)
Angola | Brazil | Cape Verde | East Timor | Guinea-Bissau | Mozambique | Portugal | São Tomé and Príncipe

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