Questioned by Lusa about this possibility, Zacarias da Costa replied: "I don't think so. (...) These relationships between our Member States have been going on for a long time, and they have not destroyed the cohesion that existed and still exists within our community". Because "they did not make the decision as CPLP", he stressed.

During the official visit to Georgia, a country that is a friend of the Russian Federation and an associate observer of the CPLP for ten years, accompanied by representatives of eight of the nine Member States of the CPLP, Zacarias da Costa stressed: "I think that the CPLP has never been in question in these years", he stressed.

Therefore, regarding the cooperation agreement with Russia recently signed by São Tomé and Príncipe, the country that has held the rotating presidency of the CPLP since August, the executive secretary stressed that it is "a sovereign decision of a Member State".

However, he admitted that the situation of the Russia - Ukraine war and the world situation "can lead to different interpretations".

Regarding the visit of the CPLP delegation, which he leads, to Georgia, a country that supports Russia and also has an authoritarian regime, the executive secretary defended the organization: "We were invited more than a year ago by the Government of Georgia, directly by the Minister of Foreign Affairs [of the country], who paid a visit to the CPLP headquarters", noting that "this is a decision that was made some time ago" and that "it has nothing to do with the current moment".

Zacarias da Costa explained that the visit of the CPLP delegation aims to celebrate this year the friendship and relationship of that organization with "Georgia as an associate observer", recalling that, throughout ten years of relationship with Georgia, the CPLP had visits "at the highest level" of authorities of that country, from the President of the Parliament, several ministers and vice-ministers.

"We have had a dynamic relationship, a constructive relationship, and the country's internal affairs are none of the CPLP's business", stressed the executive secretary.

Thus, "we respected, we were invited, we accepted and I think that all Member States were consulted, regarding this visit and, therefore, all sent their permanent representatives, with the exception of Portugal, which sent its number 'two', and also Cape Verde, which will not be able to attend due to force majeure".

The executive secretary and the permanent representatives of eight of the nine Member States of the CPLP began a working visit to Georgia on Saturday, which will last until Tuesday, during which they will have high-level meetings.

According to the initial program released by the CPLP, today there were scheduled hearings with the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, as well as with the Vice President of the Parliament, Archil Talakvadze, the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Levan Davitashvili, and meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ilia Darchiashvili, and with the Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Youth, Aleksandre Tsuladze.

The CPLP delegation was also invited to participate in a cultural event, at the National Parliamentary Library of Georgia, within the scope of the celebrations of May 5 - "World Portuguese Language Day" and "Portuguese Language and Culture Day in the CPLP" -, and in the military swearing-in ceremony of May 26, which marks Georgia's Independence Day.

The visit takes place at a time when Georgia is experiencing great instability, with demonstrations in the streets against the bill on "foreign influence", which, according to its detractors, was inspired by Russian legislation, used since 2012 to suppress the opposition.

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