"There is a lot of noise around the issue, but Portugal is in no way a blocking factor for the signing of this agreement, which is something that concerns São Tomé and Príncipe", said Carlos Vila Nova on Sunday, when asked by journalists, after participating in a mass at the Fátima parish in São Tomé.

Carlos Vila Nova said that he spoke with the Portuguese President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, on Friday night, and did not feel that there was a climate of tension, after the statements made by leaders of the two countries.

On Friday, the Prime Minister of São Tomé, Patrice Trovoada, said that his government does not need Portugal to relate to Europe and warned that the Portuguese authorities will only know about the military agreement with Russia if it is published.

Patrice Trovoada was reacting to statements by the Portuguese President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who said on Thursday that he was unaware of the military cooperation agreement signed between São Tomé and Príncipe and the Russian Federation, but that he would like to see the document.

He was also reacting to statements by the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs (MNE), Paulo Rangel, who said on Thursday that Portugal and "other European States expressed surprise, apprehension and perplexity at this agreement".

"I think that in the coming days, with the progress of the situation, everything will be clarified, there is no attempt by any partner to block anything. There is perhaps a need for transparency, to comply with these steps, to take into account the necessary procedures", said Carlos Vila Nova.

The Head of State of São Tomé appealed for "calm on all sides" so that contributions can be made for the good of São Tomé and Príncipe "because the country is going through very difficult socio-economic times".

Carlos Vila Nova argued that the authorities of São Tomé must avoid "collisions" of opinions, actions and attitudes between Russia's partners and other NATO partners that support São Tomé and Príncipe in the monitoring of the Gulf of Guinea.

The Head of State of São Tomé said that he was aware of the signing of the agreement, but had not yet spoken to the Prime Minister about the matter.

"I was aware of the signing of the agreement, but I have not yet spoken to the Prime Minister, also because I hope that these steps to which I referred, especially [sending the agreement] to the National Assembly, will be carried out as quickly as possible, in order to avoid this lack of clarification and to have things more transparently", said Carlos Vila Nova.

According to the official Russian news agency Sputnik, the "indefinite" military agreement was signed in St. Petersburg on 24 April and began to be implemented on 5 May, providing for training, use of weapons and military equipment and visits by Russian planes, warships and vessels to the archipelago.

On Friday, the Prime Minister of São Tomé said that, on the São Tomé side, "things are clear, they are calm" and the agreement with Russia "is in force" and will be implemented, after following the internal procedures.

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