April 4 marks the 73rd. anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). It has been 73 years of unjustifiable existence in the light of the United Nations Charter and 73 years of activity contrary to the principles of peace and disarmament.

On April 2, 1976, the deputies of the Constituent Assembly, elected in the first free elections in our country, adopted and promulgated the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic.

The Portuguese Council for Peace and Cooperation marks and commemorates the Palestinian Land Day, which is celebrated today, March 30th., reaffirming the end of the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories by Israel and the demand for compliance with international law, namely the national rights of the Palestinian people.

The decisions of the NATO and European Union Summits, held on March 24 and 25, in Brussels not only do not contribute to seek a negotiated solution to the war in Ukraine, but align with the escalation of confrontation that they have long been promoting, namely in Eastern Europe and particularly with Russia.

In Lisbon, Porto, Viseu, Évora, Santarém and Couço, on March 10, the Portuguese Council for Peace and Cooperation organised several street actions, gathering hundreds of people all over the country, under the theme "Stop the war, give Peace a chance". They reaffirmed the pressing need to put an end to the escalation of the conflict, promote dialogue and negotiations, reach agreements that serve the interests of peace and cooperation among peoples!

On March 18, the Spanish Government, through its Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, supported the Kingdom of Morocco's intention to continue the illegal occupation of territories in Western Sahara, through a so-called 'statute of autonomy'.

The change of position by the Spanish Government is contrary to international law and disregards the resolutions adopted within the framework of the United Nations. These resolutions establish the respect and fulfilment of the inalienable right to self-determination of the Sahrawi people.

The Portuguese Council for Peace and Cooperation (CPPC) followed with great concern the worsening situation in Eastern Europe, which led to a new escalation in the military confrontation that has been taking place in Ukraine since 2014 and to the military intervention by the
Russian Federation in that country.

The evolution of the situation in Europe brings special relevance and urgency to what the
CPPC expressed as pressing, in mid-December: the “urgent adoption of measures
capable of immediately reducing the military escalation and the danger of confrontation
and promote the establishment of measures of mutual trust that, in the long term, will
make possible détente and the safeguarding of peace.”
Since then, the tension has not ceased to escalate. The US and NATO have further

The continuous and prolonged interferences and wars of aggression conducted by the USA, NATO and their allies, in the Middle East, in Africa, in Central Asia and in Europe, led to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis with expression in the tens of millions of displaced people, refugees and migrants from countries affected by conflict or bordering them, and sought refuge in countries of the European Union (EU).

It is with concern that the Portuguese Council for Peace and Cooperation follows the evolution of the escalation of tension between NATO and Russia and, in this context, the developments of the situation in Ukraine, which pose serious and huge risks to peace. In view of the seriousness of the situation, the CPPC considers that it is urgent to adopt measures capable of immediately reducing the military escalation and the danger of confrontation and promoting the establishment of measures of mutual trust that, in the long term, will enable détente and safeguard peace.