Isaura Daniel*
isaura.daniel@anba.com.br
São Paulo – Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, and São Paulo, the economic capital of Brazil, should become sister cities. Relations between both cities were the theme of a meeting yesterday (25) between the ambassador of the Arab country to Brasília, Sefeddine Cherif, with the mayor of São Paulo, Gilberto Kassab, and with alderman José Rogério Farhat. The politician placed this week, at the City Council, a project to make both cities into sister cities. He believes that the project should be voted still in the first half.
Cherif met with the mayor and with the alderman in the company of Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce president Antonio Sarkis Jr. and of the marketing vice president at the organisation, Rubens Hannun, who is also the honorary consul of Tunisia in São Paulo. At the city hall, the ambassador of Tunisia forwarded to Kassab the message that, answering to a request by the mayor of São Paulo himself, Abbés Mohsen, the mayor of Tunis, should visit the capital of São Paulo this half. Kassab was enthused with the idea and promised to repay the visit, also travelling to Tunis.
"This is an incentive to cultural and economic relations between both cities," stated Kassab with regard to the future meetings between both mayors. He recalled that São Paulo usually makes this kind of exchange with several regions of the world. According to Cherif, the trip of the mayor of Tunis to São Paulo should be an opportunity to promote relations between both cities, to make the Brazilians discover Tunis a little more and to make the Arab country discover Brazil further, as well as examining what may be done together. Another reason for the trip to be taken by Mohsen will be the possibility of making Tunis and São Paulo sister cities.
The idea behind the project to be voted at the City Council was suggested to Farhat, a descendant of Lebanese, by Hannun. "The project formalizes the closer ties and this simplifies relations in sports, culture and trade," said the alderman to ANBA. Hannun stated that both cities have much in common. "They are lively cities, with much movement, development, similar moods and lifestyles. For this reason, people in both cities get along well. The mayor of Tunis himself, who speaks Portuguese and has a son who supports (Brazilian team) Corinthians, is a demonstration of these close ties," said Hannun.
Ambassador Cherif was taken by Farhat to visit the plenary of the City Council. The diplomat, Hannun and Sarkis were also honoured by the alderman, who gave them a key ring and button with the symbol of the House. The meeting with Kassab was also accompanied by the municipal Foreign Relations secretary, Alfredo Cotait Neto, and the joint secretary for the area, Flávio Goldman.
The ambassador spoke to them about the admiration that the Tunisians have for Brazil. According to him, Tunisia wants to learn with the Brazilian experience. "We have similar problems, and I want to transfer what I learn to my country," said the diplomat. Cherif recalled that there is already quality trade between Brazil and Tunisia. He said, however, that trade may grow further and that he will work for this. According to the ambassador, Brazil exports mainly coffee, sugar and meats to Tunisia and the Arab country exports mainly fertilizers to Brazil.
Yesterday was the last day of the official visit of ambassador Cherif to São Paulo. In an interview to ANBA, Cherif thanked the Chamber for its collaboration during his trip to the capital of São Paulo. He had, in São Paulo, a series of meetings with local business and political authorities, and also with journalists, on Monday (24) and Tuesday (25). "It was above my expectations," said Cherif.
*Translated by Mark Ament
