RTL Today - Interview with former Luxembourg national basketball player: 'The partnership between Cape Verde and Luxembourg is significant and long-lasting'

Luxembourg welcomed Cape Verdean President José Maria Neves and his wife, Débora Katisa Carvalho, as they embark on a state visit that commenced on Tuesday and will extend until Thursday. Our colleagues from RTL.lu spoke with Nelson Delgado, a former Luxembourg national basketball player with Cape Verdean roots, about the relationship between the two countries.

The Cape Verdean delegation is accompanied by Foreign Minister Rui Alberto de Figueire do Soares, as well as Ministers Jorge Pedro Maurício dos Santos and Alexandre Dias Monteiro.

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Luxembourg and Cape Verde share a robust and enduring partnership. Since 1993, the African island nation has held the position of being a privileged partner country in Luxembourg's cooperative aid initiatives. This collaboration holds significant importance, particularly according to Nelson Delgado, a former Luxembourg national basketball player with Cape Verdean roots.

"In my view, the partnership between Cape Verde and Luxembourg is significant and long-lasting. Cape Verde finds increasing inspiration from the Luxembourgish model, and through this cooperative effort, Cape Verde has made remarkable strides in its development," Delgado told our colleagues from RTL.lu.

For Delgado, this state visit holds tremendous significance for both the Luxembourgish and Cape Verdean communities residing in Luxembourg. As of November 2021, there are 2,562 Cape Verdeans living in the country.

"This state visit is personally meaningful to me and our Cape Verdean community, as it demonstrates that cooperation continues to thrive. In addition, I believe it provides Luxembourgers with an opportunity to gain deeper insights into Cape Verde," Delgado emphasised.

While considerable progress has already been made in integrating the Cape Verdean community in Luxembourg, this state visit further enhances the prospects of integration, according to Delgado.

"In my opinion, integration is progressing quite well here. The first generation of immigrants faced significant challenges, but today, the situation has improved as newcomers receive support from their families, friends, and advisory structures designed to assist immigrants. However, learning the Luxembourgish language remains somewhat difficult. Cape Verdeans find it easier to learn French," Delgado explained.

Maintaining a connection to their home country and staying informed about its developments holds significant importance for the Cape Verdean community in Luxembourg.

"The connection to our homeland is strong. Every Cape Verdean strives to support their island. If things are not going well there, Cape Verdeans residing here express great concern. They also follow political events in Cape Verde with keen interest," Delgado shared.

Continued collaboration between the two nations plays a pivotal role in further improving integration, according to Delgado.

"I genuinely hope that our excellent cooperation will be sustained and continue to flourish. For the Cape Verdean community in Luxembourg, I aspire for us to continue feeling at home here, and I also hope that cultural exchanges between Luxembourgers and Cape Verdeans will further expand," Delgado expressed, underscoring his deep bonds with both countries.

In closing, Delgado conveyed his well wishes for the Cape Verdean president during his state visit to Luxembourg.

"I wish the Cape Verdean president a pleasant visit to our country."

The Cape Verdean delegation was received at Findel airport on Tuesday morning by Minister Marc Hansen. The state visit's itinerary includes engagements with Grand Duke Henri and Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, among other notable events, culminating on Thursday.