foreign policy

Brazil ‘won’t interfere’ in Scotland independence referendum

SÃO PAULO — Brazil has no intention of taking sides in Thursday’s referendum on Scottish independence, the Brazilian Ministry of External Relations told the Anadolu Agency on Wednesday afternoon.

“Brazil will not interfere in what we consider to be an internal matter for the United Kingdom,” an official at the Itamaraty – as the ministry is known locally – said by phone from the Brazilian capital, Brasília.

When asked whether Brazil would work with an independent Scotland, the ministry spokesperson said the practicalities of recognition would be addressed in the event of secession from the UK, but that the Latin country would “obviously” establish diplomatic relations.

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Israel sorry for Brazil ‘diplomatic dwarf’ jibe

Anadolu Agency

SÃO PAULO — Israel has apologised for remarks from a foreign ministry official last month in which he referred to Brazil as a “diplomatic dwarf” over its condemnation of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza.

President Reuven Rivlin called his Brazilian counterpart, Dilma Rousseff, late on Monday to apologise for comments by Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson Yigal Palmor to The Jerusalem Post on 24 July.

Rivlin told Rousseff that Palmor’s opinions “did not reflect the feelings of the country’s population towards Brazil,” according to a statement from Brazil’s presidential Planalto Palace.

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Latin America takes stand against Israel over Gaza

Anadolu Agency

SÃO PAULO — Latin American countries have stepped up their diplomatic protest against Israel, ratcheting up international pressure over its military offensive in Gaza and rallying behind the Palestinians.

Five countries in Latin America — Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador and Peru — have now recalled their ambassadors to Israel for consultation: a major protest in diplomatic terms, and on Thursday, Costa Rica became the latest Latin nation to voice its concern over the “escalation of violence,” summoning the Israeli ambassador to the country for explanation.

Bolivian President Evo Morales has also declared Israel a “terrorist state” and torn up a long-standing free travel agreement between the two countries.

ALSO: Read my Op-Ed for Al Jazeera on Brazil foreign policy

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