Portuguese institute sees US government cancel programme
The US government has cancelled its programme at a Portuguese institute that would allow it to have space to promote American culture. The US government questioned the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) over links to terrorist organisations.
Its president, Rogério Colaço told reporters that he had been informed of the cancellation of the programme American Corners, on 5th March with “immediate effect.” On the same day ,an inquiry with “quite inappropriate questions” over whether the Portuguese institute had collaborated or was cited in accusations or investigations involving terrorist associations, cartels, human and drug trafficking, or organisations that promote mass immigrations.
“Técnico responded that it would not respond to the questionnaire because it was not appropriate for a public higher education institution to be subject to public and legal scrutiny in a democratic country that is a member of the European Union,” Colaço said.
According to the IST’s president, the institute was informed of the cancelation of the programe followed by a questionnaire, citing a determination from the American State Department.
American Corners is funded by the American government. The embassy in Lisbon calls it an “information and culture” centre, operating in universities. Aside from IST, it operates at other Portuguese universities, including the universities of the Azores, Aveiro, Porto (Faculty of Arts), Lisbon (Faculty of Arts) and Nova de Lisboa (Faculty of Science and Technology) all have such a space.
It has been operating for over a decade at IST. Colaço said it had promoted lectures, meetings , and “dissemination as well as scientific activities.”
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