In an interview with Armenian News – NEWS.am, Ambassador of Brazil to Armenia Edson Marinho Duarte Monteiro expressed dissatisfaction with the current level of economic cooperation between the countries, told a funny story which happened to him on New Year and expressed hope to see as much Armenians as possible during the Summer Olympic Games to be held in his country.

Mr. Ambassador, which are the main achievements in bilateral relations between Armenia and Brazil in 2015?

Brazil and Armenia have a relation that is still growing. In terms of investments, there has not been Brazilian investment in Armenia in any substantial way.  [But] I believe that there is a lot we could do. Brazil has invested in many countries in areas that are present in the Armenian economy, such as agriculture, mining, and several kinds of financial services. But again I have the impression that there has not been a lot of promotion of Armenian investment opportunities for Brazilian exporters, importers and other companies that could come and work here. [Nevertheless,] Something special happened this year that I should mention. One of the biggest Brazilian exporting companies, which is very active in the mining sector and also produces some very special industrial components, has started working with Armenian companies. The company is called Magnesita. What they are doing in Armenia is very important. They are working with companies which produce steel and cement. They produce a kind of brick, special brick which has to be used inside of ovens, for example, where you burn material to make cement. So this is actually not just an export; it’s more of a partnership that is created between the Brazilian and Armenian companies. Two big Brazilian companies in the field of agriculture were Sadia and Perdigão: actually these two are working together now. They are now big players around the world and have production in the United States and Asia.

To me the most important change would be contacts. How do you make contacts? You have to come to Brazil. “Brazil is very far”, people would tell me. So don’t come to Brazil: go to very important trade fares in Europe: Germany, Italy and France. Look if there are any Brazilian companies there. Probably there will be such in many cases, because that’s how they operate. So you can come to Europe to meet them. There are Brazilian companies with offices in Dubai, in the Middle East and also Moscow. We have a lot of Brazilian companies working in Russia. So I think that what is lacking is some [kind of] decision. In terms of investment and trade, the relations are not yet at the level we would like them to be. But there are possibilities.

How is the New Year celebrated in Brazil? Are there any special Brazilian traditions?

One of the biggest New Year celebrations in the world takes place on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. It is estimated that 1,5 million people come together – it’s a huge beach. And what we do there is basically what we do at home: people come, they organize some tables, bring some food and drinks. There is music the Mayor of Rio provides. People come early - by 7-8 pm - and celebrate by drinking, eating, listening to music. And then at midnight there is a very big firework display. I think it lasts for more than 20 minutes, I’m not exaggerating.

But there are also private celebrations. We can get together at home and again have some food and drinks with friends and listen to music. And at midnight we do the counting down until the New Year comes. Then we drink, shout and brace each other. There is really a very festive mood all around the country. People enjoy celebrating New Year’s Eve. Remember that it is summer time for Brazil which makes it very convenient for people either to have a public celebration. In terms of food and drinks, there is not something special that I could say is Brazilian. Brazil is a country that received immigrants from all over the world.  So when it comes to New Year and Christmas, we do what the immigrants brought to Brazil. And we drink wine. It’s interesting because Brazil was not until very recently a wine-drinking country. Wine was drunk only in the south of Brazil, but not all over the country. We prefer beer: cold beer goes very well with summer time. But on Christmas and New Year’s Eve there was always wine coming from the southern Brazil or other countries.

Could you remember an interesting story related to the New Year?

Let me tell one story about myself. On New Year’s Eve, when my daughter was 8 months old, we came to a little village [in Brazil], where my family - my Mother, Father and brothers were living  - to spend the New Year together. At about 11 in the evening on December 31 we realized that there was not enough milk in the house for my daughter and the following day – the first day of the year - the shops would be closed. So I was asked to go and try to find milk. And I went out, at about 11:15. I found a place, bought the milk and when I was walking back home, I passed by a bar, and some of my friends were there and they called me. They said they were cooking the special kind of crepe we have here. I said I’m going to take the milk for my daughter. They said: “Just leave it here in the fridge. You bought it already, so it’s safe.” And I started eating the crepes and drinking the beer and talking. And then I realized it was already the following year. So when I got home people were waiting for me with very long faces and I had to explain I could not pass my friends I would not see very often, because I wasn’t living there any more. The fact is that from that day on I became known as a father who goes out to buy milk for his daughter and only comes back the next year, which of course is not fair, but is true.  

Would you like to add something?

I’m very happy with the level of cultural exchanges that we are having with Armenia. Despite the difficulties and economic crisis, as well as less money being available for everything, we have been able to do some cultural promotions in areas such as music, cinema, and the martial art Capoeira.

I’m also very happy to say that this year is a special one because we signed an agreement with Armenia to exempt Armenians from visas for short-term visits to Brazil. And this I think is a good sign, a good indication and a good message. Brazilians now can also come to Armenia for short visits without a visa. I hope this will stimulate more exchanges in tourism, which is an area which I think can grow. And last but not least, I think this agreement came just on time because next year we have the Summer Olympics and the Summer Paralympic Games in Brazil.  And that will be the time when we will expect visitors from many countries. Armenia will have some athletes competing and I do hope that a good number of Armenians will come to Brazil to cheer for their athletes, celebrate when they win some medals, which I’m sure they will, and then, generally, to get to see Brazil. So I’m very optimistic in relation to the next year also because of these new changes in our relations when we now have an open door for each other.