Brasília – Starting in January, ambassador Cesário Melantonio Neto will become the special envoy of Brazil to the Middle East, including Turkey and Iran. Ahead of him, the diplomat, who has been in the diplomatic corps for over 40 years, forecasts a long period of tension, aligned to articulation to avoid the worsening of violence. According to him, the Brazilian challenge is to maintain a non-interventionist policy and the defence of dialogue as the negotiation alternative.
In recent days, in his post as ambassador to Cairo, Melantonio Neto was involved in talks regarding parliamentary elections in the country and negotiations to end the impasse in Syria. Below, read the main stretches of the interview the diplomat gave to Agência Brasil.
Agência Brasil – What will your work be like in the position of special envoy to the Middle East, including Turkey and Iran?
Cesário Melantonio Neto – It is not a new post. In the past, it was performed by [retired] ambassador Afonso de Ouro Preto. As I know the region well, having been ambassador to Iran, Turkey and now Egypt, I was designated to the new post. The Brazilian position has historically been one of non-interventionism. We defend dialogue and the search for a peaceful solution to impasse.
Before the capture and death of former Libyan leader Muammar Khadafi you travelled to Libya to negotiate with members of the National Transitional Council (NTC). What is said in a moment of such tension and dispute?
In all talks I have, be they here [in Egypt], with the authorities of the Arab League, or in Libya, I tend to recall that all revolutionary processes are slow and live a moment of transition. In Brazil itself we underwent a long phase from the end of authoritarianism to re-democratisation. But I sincerely believe that it will take a long time for this process to be concluded.
It seems so distant for Brazil, in South America, to participate in peace talks in the region. Why is the theme so dear to Brazil?
Brazil participates in a group called Aspa (South America and Arab Countries), whose main objective is integration in these areas. In September 2012, the Aspa will meet in Lima, Peru. We are concerned with the difficulties of all member countries and, in this case, the distance should not be observed as a difficulty.
On observing the East, the impression we have is that the critical situation is concentrated in Syria. But is that true?
No. There are several points of tension. Popular protests are intense not only in Syria but also in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran and others. I am in permanent communication with the Arab League [which includes 22 nations, including Syria, which has temporarily been suspended] to learn about the negotiations. Brazil supports the work of the Arab League and places itself at its disposal.
You said you still expect a long time before the end of all this tension…
Yes. Revolutionary processes throughout history have shown themselves slow and gradual. In the case of the West, the best example is the French Revolution [1789-1799]. For this reason, when I am asked whether these movements will continue, I always answer: “It will take some time still”.
*Translated by Mark Ament
