SOCIETY 368 / 2015

DIPLOMATIE
BRAZIL
➢
were calls from other countries that Brazil
should take a certain number of refugees?
In our mindset we are an open country, a country
of immigration. On top of our Portuguese
origins, we have the largest Italian community
abroad and the largest Lebanese community in
the world. Again, it is very difficult to know the exact
numbers: let’s assume that five percent of the
Brazilian population have Lebanese origin, that
would make around ten million people with Lebanese
origin. We have the biggest Japanese community
abroad, the second largest German community
and the largest African population outside
Africa. I am not speaking about the community of
real immigrants, but of people descending from
those countries and regions. We are open in our
DNA. Brazil has been receiving a large number of
migrants from neighbouring countries. Now the
question you asked: It is also about geography, the
Middle East is closer to Europe, so the migrants
will rather come there. Just like many people in
South America would go to the United States or
Brazil. Having said that, it is important to have in
mind that Brazil has already received more than
2,000 Syrian refugees, which is more than many
European countries.
Gallery of all Brazilian Ambassadors
to Austria since 1947.
CURRICULUM
VITAE
Evandro Didonet, born in
1958, completed the Diplomatic
Academy in 1980
and his studies in Business
Administration at Webster
University in Saint Louis
and Vienna with an M.A. in
1986. Since September 2012,
he has been Ambassador
in Austria and Permanent
Representative to the International
Organizations in
Vienna. Furthermore, he was
head of various delegations
in international negotiations
and the coordinator
of the first IBSA Summit in
Brasilia in 2006. He worked
for the ministry of External
Relations in Brasilia in the
Eastern Europe Division, the
Latin American Integration
Department and the office
of the Secretary General.
He was posted abroad to
the embassies in Vienna,
Beijing, Bonn, Rome, Ottawa
and Washington. Evandro
Didonet is married and has
one son.
What is special about Brazil for tourists? Why
would you recommend a trip there?
Brazil is a country that has a lot to offer, because
of the fact that we are a multiethnic country.
You can see diversity in Brazil on a scale that
you cannot see in many other countries. You can
see a democratic country, which faces many development
challenges but which has made much
progress. And of course I have to mention the nature
in Brazil, which is a wonderful attraction for
foreigners.
Now we come to a few more personal questions:
Is this your first post as ambassador? Are
you a career diplomat?
Vienna is my first post as an ambassador and I
am a career diplomat.
What was your first post abroad?
Actually Austria. It is the second time here for
me; I was posted in Austria in 1984-1985.
Which countries have you been to before?
I worked in China, Germany, Italy, Canada and
the United States.
Which was your best place?
I wouldn’t like to make comparisons, so let me
say that the best place for me was Brazil. You usually
stay six years abroad and then you return to
Brazil.
Do you have children?
A young adult of 21 years, he is attending
college in the United States.
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