Itamaraty

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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Op-Ed: Though not a ‘diplomatic dwarf,’ Brazil foreign policy lacks clout

Al Jazeera America

Brazil woke from a foreign policy slumber last week and waded into the world’s most complex geopolitical conflict.

As the number of civilian deaths in Gaza continued to climb to disturbing levels, Brazil’s Foreign Ministry issued a short statement saying it considered the “escalation of violence” between Israel and Palestine “unacceptable” and “strongly condemned the disproportionate use of force by Israel in the Gaza Strip.”

Brazil said it would recall its ambassador in Israel for consultation — an act of protest in diplomatic terms — which effectively fractured ties with Israel. The Palestinians praised Brazil for the strong diplomatic gesture, but Israel’s Foreign Ministry said, “Such steps do not contribute to promote calm and stability in the region,” provide a “tailwind to terrorism” and affect “Brazil’s capacity to wield influence.”

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Israel slams ‘diplomatic dwarf’ Brazil over Gaza move

Anadolu Agency

SÃO PAULO – Israel has lambasted Brazil over a decision to recall its ambassador for consultations in protest at Israel’s ongoing military offensive in the Gaza Strip.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Brazil’s actions “do not contribute to promote calm and stability in the region”.

“Rather, they provide tailwind to terrorism, and naturally affect Brazil’s capacity to wield influence,” the statement continued.

(UPDATE: Brazil is now studying its response to comments from Israel that it is “politically irrelevant”, possibly from President Rousseff personally, according to the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper.)

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Brazil World Cup projects ‘41% done’ as strikes hit

Anadolu Agency

SAO PAULO – Just 41% of projects promised by the Brazilian government for the World Cup tournament are complete as the final 30-day countdown to the tournament begins, a report said on Tuesday.

Brazil’s Folha de S.Paulo newspaper said it had checked all 167 World Cup projects announced by the government in 2010 and found that just 68 were ready.

A further 88 projects are unfinished or will be left until after the key football tournament. Eleven have been abandoned altogether, the newspaper said.

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