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ImigrantesLATEST NEWS - Tuesday 7 May to Monday 13 May 2002
7/May/2002
Open Letter to Spain's Ambassador in Lisbon
Introduction - Remembering the 7th of May, the day when Spain pledged to return the territory of Olivença, the Grupo dos Amigos de Olivença (GAO) wrote an Open Letter to the Spanish Ambassador in Lisbon...Spain signed the Treaty of Vienna...and the Spanish State "understood the occupation of Olivença to be illegal and recognized Portugal's rights".
For this Association, the "Dispute of Olivença" should be dealt with in the open, more so now that both States are members of the European Union and practise a policy of peninsular friendship and trust.
http://www.olivenca-net.online.pt
Dr Mário Rui Simões Rodrigues
"His Excellency The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain"
"As a sequel to the dishonourable military invasion that, 200 years ago, was perpetrated by the country that your Excellency represents, in teacherous collusion with Napoleon's France, Portugal was compelled to accept the iniquitous Treaty of Badajoz of 6 June 1801, in which Spain took possession 'in the capacity of conquest' of the town of Olivença".
"A manifested act of international armed robbery, so it was understood by the Powers of the time, that in the Congress of Vienna 1815, where Spain also sat, was recognized absolutely the justice of Portugal's claim over Olivença".
"For this reason it was recorded in the Treaty of Vienna, in its article 105:
"Les Puissances, reconnaisant la justice des réclamations formées par S.A.R. le Prince Regent de Portugal e du Brésil et les autres territoires cédés à Espagne par le traité de Badajoz de 1801, et envisageant la restitution de ces objets, comme une des mesures propres à assurer entre les deux royames de la péninsule, cette bonne harmonie compléte et stable don la conservation dans toutes les parties de l'Europe a été le but constant de leurs arrangements, s'engagent formellement à employer dans les vies de conciliation leurs efforts les plus efficaces, afin que la rétrocession des dits teritoires en faveur du Portugal soi effectuée; et les Puissances reconnaissent, autant qu'il dépend de chacune d'elles, que cet arrangenment doit avoir lieu au plus tôt".
"As your Excellency should well know, on 7 May 1817, exactly 185 years ago, Spain signed the Treaty of Vienna, and, thus recognized fully and without reservation Portugal's rights".
"However, two centuries having almost passed, the State that your Excellency represents has never respected the commitment accepted before the International Community. Of the honourable character, lofty and noble that Spain is said to have, there has been no manifestation. On the contrary, acting with ostensible contempt for the rights and the word given, it is Spain that takes upon itself the stain of villainy".
"It is simple. The "Dispute of Olivença", a piece of Portugal found usurped by the Spanish State, an extortion not recognized and unlawful in the light of International Law. Not obeying the law nor respecting your word, it is Spain for which your excellency is ambassador, that is dishonoured".
"As for the offence that the occupation of Olivença constitutes towards Portugal, it is the responsibility of the Portuguese to consider and judge".
"Of the offence, done to Justice and to Rights, as well as the dishonour brought about by the breaking of the given word, it concerns Spain and your Excellency to know the meaning".
Lisbon, 6/May/2002 - GAO
