Brasília – On Thursday (27) the agreement for technical cooperation between Brazil and Palestine come into place, shows the Official Gazette. The agreement was signed on March 17th, 2010, in Ramallah, Palestine, and has been under analysis by the National Congress ever since. The objective is to strengthen ties between both people, through collaboration and connected policies.
The document should proceed with actions that have already started for urbanisation and public communication, as well as agriculture, health, sports and education. The partnership may involve public and private tenders, as well as non-governmental organisations of both peoples. The text also forecasts partnerships with other countries, international organisations and regional agencies. It also determines the issuing of visas for designed personnel, the elimination of import fees for personal objects, the application of mechanisms to avoid dual taxing of funds and ease for repatriation in crisis situations.
In recent years, Brazil has been intensifying its relations with Palestine. In 2004, a representative office was opened in Ramallah. President Mahmoud Abbas came to Brazil on two occasions and president Lula visited the occupied Palestinian territories in March 2010. Since then, the government of Brazil has been supporting the creation of an autonomous and independent Palestinian state.
Brazil has been providing material support to Palestine. Since 2006, the country has been participating in international conferences to discuss solutions to the conflict in the Middle East. In 2012, the government of Brazil celebrated approval of the resolution that granted Palestine the status of observer state of the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN).
Another partnership
Apart from the terms signed with Palestine, also on Thursday (27) an agreement for cultural cooperation with Algeria, signed in 2009, was also put into place. The document determines exchange of cultural expressions between both countries, as well as the exchange of experience between museums in both countries and in other sectors of culture, like literature, visual arts and protection of assets.
Both countries should adopt measures stunting the illegal circulation of works that are part of the cultural heritage of these nations. The agreement also forecasts that both countries simplify the entry, permanence and exit of citizens of the other state to participate in cooperation projects.
*With information from the ANBA newsroom. Translated by Mark Ament
