São Paulo – Lebanese citizens no longer need to request a visa in each trip to Brazil. They will be entitled to three-year visas, for tourism and business trips, and may use them whenever they visit the country within that period. The measure was announced by the Brazilian minister of External Relations, Luiz Alberto Figueiredo Machado, in Brasília, in a meeting with the Lebanese minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Gebran Bassil, who is in Brazil. The multiple-entry visa may be used for 90-day stays in Brazil, and is renewable for another 90-day period within a year.
The two countries have also signed an agreement exempting diplomatic passport bearers, officers and professionals on special mission or on duty from visa requirement. By the agreement, citizens during such trips, from any of the two countries, may stay in the other nation for a period of up to 90 days without a visa. The period may be extended on request during the professional’s mission in Lebanon or Brazil.
Bassil arrived in the country on Wednesday (9th) and this Thursday (10th), he had meetings with several Brazilian authorities in Brasília. He also signed with Machado a memorandum that provides for bilateral consultations between Lebanon and Brazil, so opinions can be exchanged on local and international issues of common interest. According to the text released by the minister of Foreign Affairs, the goal is to strengthen “traditional bilateral and cooperation relations.”
The Lebanese minister was also welcomed by Brazilian vice president, Michel Temer (affiliated with political party PMDB), in Brasília. He asked the Brazilian vice leader for Brazil’s intermediation to help solve conflicts in Middle East, according to information released by the website of the vice presidency. “Brazil encourages dialogue, pacification and more dialogue in that region, especially via the UN. The conflict must be ended because Lebanon is often the stage for neighboring conflicts, especially from Syria today,” said Temer. According to the vice president, the minister asked for the Brazilian Army’s help. The Brazilian Navy is already active in Lebanon as part of the United Nations Peace Mission.
Temer promised to discuss the subjects brought up by Bassil with the Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff (affiliated with PT, the Worker’s Party). At the meeting with Temer, Bassil also manifested interest in intensifying trade relations and investments between the two countries. “We want Brazilian companies to invest in Lebanon. We are also interested in direct commercial flights connecting both countries,” said the Lebanese chancellor. The agreements signed with The Brazilian Ministry of External Relations (also known as Itamaraty) should boost trade and diplomatic relations. Both the visa agreement and the memorandum of understanding should enter into force as soon as each country complies with their own internal procedures for such.
This Friday (11th) Lebanon’s foreign minister will be in the city of São Paulo, where he will have a series of meetings with local authorities. The plans include meetings with governor Geraldo Alckmin (PSDB), mayor Fernando Haddad (PT) and ex-president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bassil will also be welcomed for a luncheon by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce president Marcelo Sallum.
*Translated by Rodrigo Mendonça
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