Aécio targets Dilma: "deplorable" action in the Molina case.

247 - Senator Aécio Neves (PSDB-MG) today condemned what he called the "deplorable attitude" of President Dilma Rousseff's government in the Molina case. In a statement, the presidential candidate also defended Brazilian Ambassador Eduardo Saboia, who led the escape of Bolivian Senator Roger Pinto Molina from the Brazilian Embassy in La Paz. According to Aécio, Saboia "acted driven by the highest moral values, for humanitarian reasons and in defense of human dignity" and "therefore deserves our solidarity."

According to Aécio, "by publicly shaming the diplomat," who was dismissed this Monday, "the Brazilian government bows, once again, to ideological conveniences. Even more serious, it abandons the best traditions of our diplomacy." In another part of the statement, the congressman reiterates that the country preferred "to submit to the impositions of the Evo Morales government." According to him, the values ​​of Itamaraty, which historically have been based on respect for human rights, have ceased to guide our diplomacy in recent years.

The president of the PSDB concludes his statement by declaring that the party "vehemently condemns the option chosen by the Brazilian government to bow to petty interests, inconsistent with our best diplomatic traditions."

Read the full note:

Itamaraty: Statement by Senator Aécio Neves (PSDB-MG)

"The attitude taken by President Dilma Rousseff's government in the episode involving the transfer of Bolivian Senator Roger Pinto Molina to the country is deplorable in every respect."

By publicly shaming diplomat Eduardo Saboia, the Brazilian government is once again bowing to ideological expediency. Even more serious, it is abandoning the best traditions of our diplomacy.

Historically, Itamaraty's practice has always been guided by respect for human rights, the unwavering defense of freedom, and strict adherence to the democratic rule of law. This is a centuries-old tradition, always honored by our chancellery under the inspiration of Baron Rio Branco.

Unfortunately, however, in recent years such values ​​have ceased to guide our diplomacy, supplanted by a narrow, short-sighted, and distorted view of Brazil's role in the world. The weight of ideology has undermined the performance of our foreign ministry.

Clearly, the chargé d'affaires of the Brazilian embassy in La Paz acted driven by the highest moral values, for humanitarian reasons, and in defense of human dignity.

He did what any decent man would do in a situation like the one he had been facing for 15 months: he acted to allow a citizen persecuted by the Bolivian government, and who had obtained asylum from the Brazilian government months earlier, to return to living with dignity.

Eduardo Saboia therefore deserves our solidarity.

President Dilma's government, once again, preferred to submit to the demands of Evo Morales's government and never acted effectively to resolve the diplomatic impasse and guarantee Senator Molina the safe-conduct that good international law norms recommend and require in such situations.

The recent episode involving Senator Molina is just another in a sad history, which includes Brasília's tepid reaction to the expropriation of Petrobras assets in Bolivia in 2006. It continued with the record-time deportation of two Cuban boxers during the 2007 Pan American Games; support for Manuel Zelaya's attempt to regain power in Honduras; overtures to the Iranian government; sanctions imposed on Paraguay after the deposition of Fernando Lugo from the presidency; and the condescension with which, under the guidance of the Workers' Party, our diplomacy treats the Cuban regime and Bolivarianism in Venezuela.

The PSDB expresses its unwavering support for the defense of human dignity, respect for the universal values ​​of the democratic state, and the irrevocable right to freedom of movement reserved for law-abiding citizens.

"And it strongly condemns the option chosen by the Brazilian government to bow to petty interests, inconsistent with our best diplomatic traditions."

Brasilia, August 27, 2013