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 CPPC calls for the immediate cessation of military operations, the adoption of gestures and the advancement of proposals that allow paving the way for a negotiated resolution of the conflict, an objective that should be the concern of all those who truly defend peace and respect the principles of the United Nations Charter.
The CPPC reaffirms the need to adopt measures to put an end to the policy of confrontation, which promote dialogue and the de-escalation of tensions and make it possible to find solutions with a view to ensuring collective security in Europe and in the world, because all States have the right to their security. In this sense, it is necessary that NATO abandons its intention to expand further into Eastern Europe, namely through the integration of Ukraine, and to reduce its military means and forces along the borders of the Russian Federation. The reactivation of international arms control and disarmament agreements and treaties, which the US unilaterally abandoned, such as the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty or the Open Skies Treaty, is essential.
As the present clearly shows, it is not with more militarism, threats and sanctions that peace is defended. This was, in fact, the path that led to the present situation and the serious dangers that threaten Humanity. War is not a solution to Humanity’s problems and it does not serve the interests of peoples, of all peoples, who are always its first victims. We say no to the war business, No to war! Yes to Peace!
The CPPC believes that Portugal should not contribute to the worsening of tensions. Its action must be guided by strict respect for the principles of the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic, which advocates the abolition of all types of aggression, domination and exploitation in the relations between peoples, as well as general, simultaneous and controlled disarmament, the dissolution of political-military blocs and the establishment of a system of collective security, with a view to creating an international order capable of ensuring peace and justice in the relations among peoples.
This is the path that best serves peace, this is the path that serves peoples. This is our commitment!
Source: World Peace Council