Lisbon, Jan. 12, 2021 (Lusa) - The Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and Portuguese Communities adopted on Tuesday a resolution that puts the humanitarian and security crisis in Mozambique among the priorities of the country's presidency of the Council of the European Union.

"Parliament, following Article 166(5) of the Constitution, recommends that the government, with full respect for the sovereignty of the Mozambican State: 'Place the humanitarian crisis and the problem of terrorism in Mozambique on the priorities of the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the European Union'", the text said.

The text, which results from a joint resolution of two small political party proposals, was approved in general and has now been unanimously approved. Members of the committee told Lusa today.

 The resolution also recommends that the government "intercede with the international community to ensure all necessary efforts to help curb the crimes against humanity taking place in Mozambique and help the affected populations".

They also consider the need for the government to back Portugal's participation in humanitarian actions to restore peace and support the populations, including those displaced in northern Mozambique, "mobilising all efforts with the international community and the Mozambican embassy in Portugal for this purpose".

On 5 January, the Foreign Affairs Committee discussed and approved two draft resolutions to put the humanitarian and security crisis in Mozambique on the international agenda during the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the European Union, which began on 1 January.

However, the vote on the speciality of these draft resolutions was postponed to this week according to Socialist member of parliament Paulo Pisco because the PAN (People-Nature) member, one of the parties that presented one of the draft resolutions was not present.

In addition, Telmo Correia (CDS-PP) reportedly raised the possibility that the two parties might agree on a joint document regarding part of their projects. This information was also confirmed to Lusa at the time by Social Democrat Nuno de Carvalho.

These draft resolutions, presented by CDS-PP and PAN, had been approved in general on 18 December, with abstentions by the Communists and the Greens and the vote in favour by the other parties.

The debate that preceded the vote on the projects gathered consensus on the need for urgent action to put the Mozambican issue on the international and European Union agenda, three years after the start of attacks by armed groups in Cabo Delgado province, which have caused at least 2,000 deaths and around half a million displaced people.

On 5 January, the discussion on the draft resolution of the PSD to strengthen Portugal's cooperation with Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP) was also postponed, at the request of the Socialists, said Nuno de Carvalho.

Paulo Pisco said that "the discussion was asked to be postponed because the socialist members want to assess the resolution further".

According to Nuno de Carvalho, the Socialists also said a recent change in the secretary of state responsible for cooperation, information confirmed by deputy Paulo Pisco.

"This resolution on cooperation with Mozambique was considered today but was not voted on in the Foreign Affairs Committee because it will be discussed in plenary session," Nuno de Carvalho told Lusa, which was confirmed by the Socialists.

ATR/ADB // ADB.

Lusa