AMBASSADOR ANTÓNIO CRUZ, A JOURNEY IN DIPLOMACY
Margarida Afonso, OPOMUN Media Team
During the opening ceremony, our delegates had the opportunity to hear a speech from former Foreign Minister and Ambassador António Martins da Cruz. We later had a chance to interview him and collected insight into the pathways he followed until he reached his career goals, his experience, and his perspective on the role of the new generation in diplomacy.
In our interview, he emphasised that working with international relations will not only broaden perspectives but also foster the development of more concrete visions of the world and a deeper understanding of global affairs, clearly illustrating his career.
Fifty-five years ago, as he finished law school in Lisbon, he decided he wanted to follow the career of a diplomat. He did a master’s degree in foreign affairs at the University of Geneva, where he asked to be part of the economic team, preferably in the multilateral economic department, as it was one of the themes that most sparked his interest, already thinking about the United Nations.
His career started in New York, where he stayed for three years in the Second Commission of the Economic Council, then headed back to the ECOSOC in Geneva. At the end of 1974, he was sent to Mozambique to prepare and develop the Portuguese embassy following the country’s independence. Throughout his time there, he oversaw economic affairs until he was transferred to Cairo, in Egypt, and then back to Geneva, where he worked for six years in the United Nations. His work was mainly rooted in participating in the ECOSOC, the Human Rights Committee, the Red Cross, the UNHCR, and International Labour Organisation committees—an experience he describes as highly enriching.
After 11 years, António Cruz came back home to assume the position of Director of the Negotiation Team for Portugal’s accession to the European Union. He later stepped out of his role for nine years and began working as a foreign affairs advisor to the Prime Minister, until he became the Ambassador to NATO in Brussels. Time and experience helped him build his diplomatic pathway, leading him to become Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1995.
Returning to Portugal after so many years was a constant challenge. “I felt like a foreigner looking at Portugal (…), coming back and not recognising the place and people,” he reflects nostalgically. He spent his career around the globe, building roots in diverse places and being introduced to different perspectives and opinions, all of which contributed to shaping him into the person he is today. However, he also claims, “It is always good for a diplomat to come back home and feel life again in Portugal” or in their respective country.
He concluded that diplomacy was the right path for him while still in school, believing it would open doors and be the gateway to experiences beyond Portugal. Pursuing this career allowed him to engage in different areas, covering politics, strategy and defence, and economic diplomacy. Economic diplomacy, in Cruz’s opinion, is the most diverse and enriching, as he believes it is “the diplomacy of the future.”
Overall, he values international relations due to the varied market opportunities it offers. As time passes, he recognises that more companies will need the support of experts in international relations to navigate decision-making, advising on what is best to do, due to the fast-paced developments of the world.
Lastly, he was really surprised by the commitment, concentration, and excellence of the opening ceremony, characterising it as “fantastic” and congratulating the Executive Team. The development of OPOMUN and MUNs across different schools introduces and incentivises an interest in diplomacy and international relations. Ambassador António Cruz believes the course of the conference is a challenge for all delegates, allowing them to comprehend the procedures of the United Nations, develop skills, approve resolutions, negotiate, and find solutions for their country.
António Cruz sends a message to younger generations by saying, “I hope you can change the world.” Throughout the interview, he illustrated his interest in and awe at the development of the world through diverse factors, such as going abroad, access to immense information, and the advent of technology. These factors provide more opportunities for delegates to succeed in a diplomatic life, not only because “young people are much better prepared than my generation was,” but also because of his strong belief that each individual has the power to choose their future.