The Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Luis Amado, highlighted and praised the role of IPDAL, Institute for the Promotion and Development of Latin America, in bringing Portugal closer to Latin American countries. Luis Amado was speaking at the Reception offered by IPDAL, for the Institute’s Anniversary, on the 22nd, in Lisbon.

100 guests were present, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the President of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs – deputy José Ribeiro e Castro, D. Enrique Iglésias – Ibero-American Secretary General, the Head of State Protocol – Ambassador José Serrano, the President of the Pró-Dignitate Foundation – Maria Barroso -, the Vice-President of the Luso-Spanish Foundation – José António Silva e Sousa – and the General Director of Fundacion Euroamérica – Asunción Valdez.

Also present were Latin American Ambassadors and diplomats from other countries, academics, businesspeople, journalists, researchers, etc.

The Reception also saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between IPDAL and the Pró-Dignitate Foundation, signed by the respective presidents.

The IPDAL-Vista Alegre Awards were also awarded, which serve to distinguish personalities and/or institutions that have strengthened relations between Portugal and Latin America and that have stood out in their collaboration with IPDAL.

The winners were: The general director of INFORPRESS in Portugal, Ana Margarida Ximenes, the President of the Order of Engineers, Eng. Fernando Santo, the Ibero-American Secretary General, D. Enrique Igélisas and the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Luis Amado .