[Brazil] Diplomatic Message to Australia

[Kane]

​	MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS REPUBLICA FEDERATIVA DO BRASIL
SECURITY CLEARANCE:​	ENCRYPTED / SECURE
PRIVACY LEVEL:​	CONFIDENTIAL

​

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From: Miguel Belchor, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Federative Republic of Brazil.
To: Kevin Rudd, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Commonwealth of Australia Owen
Date: June 2007
SEC: ENCRYPTED | CONFIDENTIAL

Your Excellency,

I trust this message finds you well. Brazil wishes to open a focused, results-oriented partnership with Australia, reflecting our shared interests in the South Atlantic, the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. As a first step, Brazil is ready to proceed with the exchange of resident Ambassadors and to establish a secure, day-to-day coordination line between our Ministries. These agreements would include:

1) Diplomatic Presence & Direct Channel
• Exchange of resident Ambassadors and immediate points-of-contact for routine coordination and crisis management.
• Standing secure line between our Ministries.

2) Maritime, Southern Ocean & Antarctic Cooperation
• Practical coordination on search-and-rescue, illegal fishing, and ocean monitoring.
• Science partnerships on polar logistics, meteorology and earth observation.

3) Long-Range HF Surveillance (OTHR-based) — Cooperation Track
• Brazil proposes a cooperation programme, inspired by Australia’s experience, to develop a long-range HF (OTHR-based) surveillance capacity tailored to Brazilian geography. It is of our interest to acquire a OTHR-based survey system that helps in the defense of our country, and we would like to start conversations in this matters.

4) Trade, Investment & Treaties
• Identification of any priority trade routes and early removal of specific frictions.
• Discussion of targeted tariff reductions and customs facilitation to unlock joint manufacturing and services.

5) Mobility & Visas
• Exploration of a facilitated visa regime for short stays (including e-visa options) to support business, education and official travel.
• Improved consular coordination for our communities.

6) Industrial Cooperation & Licensing
• Opportunities for technology transfer, local assembly/production and long-term O&M in Brazil where feasible.

If agreeable, Brazil will share an initial brief listing candidate sites and technical focal points for the OTHR feasibility work, together with priority sectors for trade facilitation. We would welcome, in return, Australia’s view on a suitable technical dialogue format and an initial schedule for a feasibility mission to Brazil and the appointment of a new ambassador.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Miguel Belchor
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Federative Republic of Brazil
Brasília

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= CONFIDENTIAL =
TODAS AS INFORMAÇÕES CONTIDAS NESTE DOCUMENTO DEVEM ESTAR EM CONFORMIDADE
COM A REGULAMENTAÇÃO VIGENTE SOBRE DIVULGAÇÃO DE INFORMAÇÕES APROVADA PELO PARLAMENTO BRASILEIRO.

 

[Owen]

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MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS​

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: TOP SECRET​

20 May 2007

Dear Minister Belchor, I am pleased to hear from you. There is certainly many areas of growth between Australia and Brazil. Despite being on opposite ends of the world, we have a lonely existence here in the Southern Hemisphere. Indeed, Australia and Brazil are the largest nations by area in the Southern Hemisphere and are noted for constantly battling to hold the title of the largest, greatest, biggest of whatever it may be "... in the Southern Hemisphere". From what I recall we currently hold the title for largest shopping centre, greenhouse and flag in the Southern Hemisphere. We are also noted for both sharing the Southern Cross or Crux constellation in our flag, something which only New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Samoa have. I can confirm that Mr. Patrick Lawless has taken over from Mr. Neil Mules as the Australian Ambassador to Brazil and will move from his current role as the Ambassador to Poland to the Embassy in Brasilia. Australia also maintains a Consulate-General in Sao Paulo and an Honorary Consul in Rio de Janeiro. Mr. Lawless is fluent in Portuguese. As for these other matters you have listed, I would like to visit Brazil at the nearest opportunity to personally discuss them myself to you. Yours sincerely, Kevin Rudd.

Parliament House, CANBERRA, ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6277 7700​

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Kane

 

[Kane]

​	MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS REPUBLICA FEDERATIVA DO BRASIL
SECURITY CLEARANCE:​	ENCRYPTED / SECURE
PRIVACY LEVEL:​	TOP SECRET

​

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From: Miguel Belchor, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Federative Republic of Brazil.
To: Kevin Rudd, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Commonwealth of Australia Owen
Date: June 2007
SEC: ENCRYPTED | TOP SECRETE

Dear minister Rudd.

I appreciate your prompt response and am pleased to know that we are aligned, not only geographically, but also in our desire for our nations to begin a fruitful and long-lasting relationship.

For our part, we would like to confirm that we will appoint Mr. Tomás Castro as Ambassador Plenipotentiary to Canberra, although we would like to open a consulate in Sydney, with your authorization and in the location indicated by your government.

It will be an honor and a privilege for Brazil to welcome you on an official visit, and I would like to take this opportunity to formally invite you to our country at a date that suits you, where we will discuss, as you said, the other matters mentioned in my first communication. Please have your office coordinate the dates and other details with mine.

I look forward to your visit with excitement. I am confident that we will be able to reach agreements that will benefit our countries and lay the foundations for the future.

With best regards.

Miguel Belchor
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Federative Republic of Brazil
Brasília

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= TOP SECRET =
TODAS AS INFORMAÇÕES CONTIDAS NESTE DOCUMENTO DEVEM ESTAR EM CONFORMIDADE
COM A REGULAMENTAÇÃO VIGENTE SOBRE DIVULGAÇÃO DE INFORMAÇÕES APROVADA PELO PARLAMENTO BRASILEIRO.