Portugal hopeful Vasco da Gama fete will be held

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji

Portugal's external affairs minister Jaime Gama has expressed hope that the fifth centenary celebrations of Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese navigator who discovered a sea route to India, will be held in Delhi despite the protests from some quarters.

"The celebrations have a global purpose. The government of India is committed to modern relations based on objectivity and a mature approach to reality," said Gama while in Panaji recently.

Objections have been raised from various quarters to the celebrations as Vasco da Gama's discovery of a sea-route to India led to the colonisation of the country. "We are using the celebrations to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries and not to repeat history," says Gama.

While a joint group of both the countries is being formed to chalk out a programme to celebrate the fifth centenary celebrations, Gama said a bilateral cultural commission is also being formed to prepare a five-year programme for cultural cooperation between the two countries.

He also said that a Portuguese cultural centre would be set up in Goa shortly, with active participation of the Findacao Oriente. Goa was a Portuguese colony for over 400 years up to 1961.

The Expo-98, an exhibition to be held in Lisbon next year, would also highlight the positive side of the Portuguese regime in India, especially in Goa and its other colonies. India is also expected to set up a stall at the exhibition.